Salhooda captures Curragh prize

Salhooda saw off market rival Hanky Panky in a thrilling finish to the Kevin Cullen Lifetime Achievement In Racing EBF Fillies’ Maiden at the Curragh.

Dermot Weld’s inmate was the 5-2 favourite on the strength of an encouraging debut second at Killarney in August and Pat Smullen was close to the pace throughout the seven-furlong test.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained Hanky Panky appeared to be going marginally the better as they passed the one-furlong marker, but Salhooda found more to take victory by a head.

Weld said: “She battled well and has done it nicely. She had a very good run and she’d been working very well. I thought she’d take a bit of beating today.

“I’d say the first two are smart fillies. Our filly is a nice staying type and should make up into a nice three-year-old.

“We’ll look at the Silken Glider Stakes (Killavullan Stakes) here in a few weeks’ time.”