Willow back to winning ways in Naas Oaks Trial

Willow and Seamus Heffernan win the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Naas Oaks Trial (Listed). Picture: Healy Racing

Having finished last behind stable-companion Snowfall in the Cazoo Oaks at Epsom last time, the Aidan O’Brien-trained Willow made her stakes-race breakthrough in Wednesday night’s listed Naas Oaks Trial, outpointing La Petite Coco by a half-length before surviving a Stewards Enquiry.

The American Pharoah filly was ridden to victory by Seamus Heffernan, whose intended mount High Heels was withdrawn. and the winning rider commented: “At the start of the year, I thought she was a really good filly, but it has taken time to get her act together.