By Irishexaminer.com,John Ryan
Copyright irishexaminer
Enjoying his best season, Twomey explained, “She’s been in good form all year, had a good run in His Majesty’s Plate and we waited for suitable ground. Billy got a lovely slot on the inside and it looked plain-sailing. I’m thrilled the way she won.
“She’s an uncomplicated filly and set for a step up in grade. The (Group 1) Prix Royallieu on Arc weekend looks the right spot for her, although she’s also in the Irish Cesarewitch and the Fillies and Mares in Ascot.”
Twomey and Lee had initiated the double on board Ballylinch Stud’s Iowa City in the Donnelly’s Of Barna Rated Race, swooping late to deny favourite Genuine Article by three-quarters of a length.
The Territories filly is set to step into listed company, according to Twomey, with the Listowel Stakes, Garnet Stakes, Waterford Testimonial and Concorde Stakes all in the mix.
And a delighted Lee declared, “It’s a great way to come back. She didn’t travel early, but came back on the bridle coming down the hill, I bided my time and she picked up really well. She did well to win and the soft ground helped.”
Aidan O’Brien won the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF 2-Y-0 Maiden for the 12th time in 15 years when Piazza San Marco, very green on debut at Fairyhouse back in June, made all under Ronan Whelan and powered up the hill to beat Hamiyan by three and a quarter lengths.
The winning rider commented, “He enjoyed the trip, the track and the ground. He’s still a big baby and rides quite raw both physically and mentally. He improved no end from his first run and he should come on a lot from this.
“Aidan likes us to keep it simple on these two-year-olds. This colt is a work in progress – his best days are ahead of him.”
Ballydoyle representative Chris Armstrong added, “He’s a smashing colt and has strengthened well since he ran. What he does this year is a bonus. He’ll have no problem stepping into stakes company, hopefully, this season.”
In the other two-year-old action, the Joseph O’Brien-trained debutante Zous And Me got home by a half-length from Sanctijude in the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Fillies Maiden, a 75th winner of the season for Dylan Browne McMonagle, who said, “She travelled well, but I was a in a pocket and needed a bit of luck. She quickened up when it opened up and got through the ground well.”
Kieran Cotter’s On A Session, placed no less than four times in the valuable Ahonoora Handicap over course and distance, finally came good at Ballybrit when landing the seven-furlong Galway Handicap, a 16th winner of the campaign for apprentice Nicola Burns.
And punters went home happy after the Dermot Weld-trained Sharanga, supported all day and sent off 5/4 favourite, produced an impressive performance on her debut in the Sean Cleary Memorial Fillies Maiden, slamming Dream On Baby.
The Zarak filly was a third maiden winner in four days for Weld and stable-jockey Chris Hayes in the Aga Khan colours.
“She’s a small filly, but it’s a case of good goods in small parcels – we’ll see how she progresses,” said Weld.
