Anabaa gives guest first Irish success

Newmarket trainer Rae Guest saddled his first winner in Ireland when 7-1 chance Miss Anabaa finished strongly to take the featured Naas Sprint Stakes at Naas.

Ridden by Johnny Murtagh, the daughter of Anabaa delighted her Watford owner-breeder Chris Mills by taking the Listed event despite fears that the ground might be too quick.

“We had taken her to France because she needs cut in the ground and while she had been running well she didn’t win there this year.

“We were starting to get concerned that the going might be too quick because there was rain forecast and it didn’t come,” said Guest, whose previous runners-up in Ireland included Aldbourne behind Ensconse in an Irish 1000 Guineas.

“Chris is thrilled that Miss Anabaa has won this Listed sprint because she is the first foal of Midnight Shift who is also the dam of Move It, winner of three races this year already for Roger Charlton and heading next to Royal Ascot,” added Guest.

Dragon Flyer, jointly-owned by trainer Mick Quinn and Miss Alison Jones, looked the more likely winner from halfway when taking the lead two furlongs out under Seamus Heffernan.

However, she “flattened a bit” on the climb to the post according to her rider and Murtagh’s late surge on Guest’s filly won the day by a length.

There was quick consolation for Oxford-based Jones when Miss Childrey, carrying the same colours as Dragon Flyer, made all the running in the other, more valuable Listed race on the Bank Holiday card, the Swordlestown Stud Sprint Stakes.

Miss Childrey, bought nearby at Goffs for €35,000, stretched out well for Heffernan to contain the persistent challenge of Little Whisper by half a length.