MICHAEL Halford’s highly promising juvenile team was further bolstered by Ridenza who could be on the big race trail after making a winning debut in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden over seven furlongs. This Aga Khan-owned daughter of Sea The Stars and her trainer’s Group 2 winner Raydara was returned a very well-backed 9/4 shot and more than vindicated that support with an assured and polished display. Ronan Whelan produced her with a steady charge from the turn in to defeat Tasalka by a comfortable length and a half.

“She’s never been away from home and she’s never been on grass but we thought she was a smart filly and it’s nice to see her do that. She’s got some good entries so we’ll just have to see where she goes,” reported Halford.

Paddy Twomey enhanced his already impressive strike rate with Silk Forest in the EBF-sponsored maiden over seven furlongs.

This Tan Kai Chah-owned three-year-old daughter of Kodiac showed lots of promise to take second in two maidens in the spring and she made short work of these rivals on her return from a 110-day break. Seamie Heffernan and the 7/4 favourite held a commanding lead with over a furlong to run and had plenty to spare in winning by three-and-a-half lengths.

“She had a couple of nice runs earlier in the season and just had a minor setback. She was just ready to start back but I was hoping she’d do that,” stated Twomey. “We feel she has the ability to run at stakes level and she’s entered in the Fairy Bridge later this month so that could be an option.”

The card concluded with a tremendously willing display from Johnny Murtagh’s Winiata (8/1-5/1) in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap over 10 furlongs. The pace setting Heliac, the chasing Cuban Surfer and the Niall McCullagh-ridden winner gave their all throughout the last furlong and Winiata found that bit more late on to score by half a length.

The reliable Orla Murtagh-owned filly could well progress again over further.