Marvada swoops late to conquer
The Curragh trainer had welcomed the decision to transfer the seven-furlong fillies’ event after two cancellations at Fairyhouse.
And Marvada, the only four-year-old in the field, displayed commendable tenacity and courage to collar front-runner Caprella inside the final furlong to score by three-quarters of a length with disappointing favourite After third.
“She’s genuine and honest and is like a blue-collar worker,” stated Condon, “She started at the bottom and has worked her way up through the ranks the hard way. She deserved this and we’re thrilled. She’s not afraid of hard graft and has that vital will to win. She wasn’t mad about the ground but she has a big heart and never gives up.”
Condon confirmed Tipperary’s Fairy Bridge Stakes as a likely target for the Elusive City filly and intends entering her for the Group 1 Matron Stakes at Leopardstown in September.
The most impressive display of the night was produced by the Adrian McGuinness-trained debutante Viztoria, 33/1 winner of the six-furlong two-year-old maiden.
Ridden by apprentice Ian Brennan, the Oratorio filly powered clear up the hill to triumph by seven and a half lengths, to the delight of his trainer, who said: “I knew she was a very good filly — she’s been beating the hell out of everything she works with.
“She won a schooling race in Dundalk, but I wasn’t sure about the heavy ground tonight. She looks fairly classy and, although I have no definite plans, we’ll probably try to get some black type for her.”
The Aidan O’Brien-trained Parliament Square was beaten at 1/4 in the opening two-year-old colts’ maiden, one of four beaten favourite for Ballydoyle on the night, finding little in the closing stages and finishing third to the Jim Bolger-trained Grafelli, the mount of Kevin Manning.
“He’s a slow learner and we’ll see how he’s treated in nurseries and go from there,” commented Bolger who completed a double when Loreto, also ridden by stable-jockey Manning, held the challenge of the Dermot Weld-trained debutant Tandem in the RSA Supporting Enable Ireland Maiden
One of Bolger’s apprentices, Ronan Whelan, is riding better than ever and completed a fine double, scoring on Stones Peak, trained by in-form Pat Martin, in the six-furlong handicap and George Kent’s progressive gelding Custom Cat, which completed a hat-trick when making all to beat market rival Captain Cullen in the Siteserv Supporting Enable Ireland Handicap.
Custom Cat is entered for Tipperary on Saturday and is likely to head for the Galway Festival.
