CHANTEZ may have earned herself an extension to her racing career after springing a shock in the Tally-Ho Stud Irish EBF Ballyogan Stakes at Naas last Sunday.

The Ger Lyons-trained filly went to post a 28/1 shot in the Group 3 contest, over just shy of six furlongs, but proved best at the finish.

Gary Carroll’s mount travelled well throughout and stayed on strongly in the closing stages to grab English raider Soul Love late on for a half-length success.

P.J. Colville, racing manager to owners Newtown Anner Stud, said afterwards: “That was great, because this could have been her last run.

“She was running well over longer distances, but she wasn’t showing as much as she did as a two-year-old, so we decided to throw the dice and come back in trip with a pair of blinkers.

“We’ll speak to Ger and Maurice (Regan), but I’m sure we’ll have another go somewhere now. She does want good ground, so we’ll see what the weather is going to do.”

Good first impression

The sponsors of the feature event look to have a smart filly of their own on their hands, after Timeless Tale made a big impression on her debut.

The Willie McCreery-trained filly went to post a 14/1 shot in the Matchbook Exchange Irish EBF Fillies Maiden, but proved another class to her rivals.

Billy Lee let the Sioux Nation filly hit the front at halfway and she quickened away over a furlong from home to post a scintillating eight-and-a-half-length success.

“That was impressive and I’m delighted to have her,” said McCreery. “She’s a lovely, big, strong filly and she’s all natural. She’s never been away from the place and I’m delighted with her.

“This filly has natural ability and we’ll see where the lads want to go now. It’ll be a stakes race and she won’t mind a bit of ease in the ground either.”

McCreery and Lee double up

McCreery went on to double up later on the card, when Steel Magnolia landed a deserved success in the Big Evs At Tally-Ho Handicap.

The 7/2 joint-favourite came with a strong run inside the final furlong to run out a cosy three-and-three-quarter length winner under Lee.

“That’s grand, she’s my own. Amanda and myself bred her,” said McCreery. “She’s Happy Henry’s little sister, so it’s great that the two of them have won this year, it keeps everything rolling.

“It’s great to get another winner for Billy, he’s riding out of his skin.”

SHEILA Lavery is hoping Maeda Matsu can develop into a star for the yard, after her success in the opening Irish EBF Median Sires Series Fillies Maiden.

The Dubawi Legend filly was an easy-to-back 7/1 shot in the seven-furlong contest but led over a furlong from home for Rory Cleary before holding Star Glory by three-parts of a length.

Lavery said: “It’s just pure relief. The horses have been running fantastic, we’ve been touched off in big handicaps, but that is my first winner this year and that’s a bit scary.

“She was very green in front and Rory wasn’t hard on her. I would think I’d be looking at the Ingabelle Stakes for her, that’s why I stepped her up so quickly to seven.

“She’s not in any of the big races, hopefully she’ll be a stunning filly for next year.”

Stakes on the cards

Donnacha O’Brien is also eyeing stakes races with Zoar, after he made a winning start for the yard in the Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden.

The No Nay Never colt went to post an 11/10 shot, having been second on his debut here last month for Josh Halley, and stayed on best in the final furlong to post a length-and-a-quarter win.

“He’s a grand horse. I don’t have him that long and, in fairness to the Halleys, they did a great job with him,” said O’Brien.

“I only did one breeze with him last weekend and it went nicely, so we said we’d come here. He’s a nice horse to get. I’d imagine we’ll have a look at stakes company next time and see where he stands at that level.”

MINELLA Rockett completed a hat-trick in the concluding TRM Bioactive Energy Boost Handicap with a last gasp success.

Port Of Spain looked to have things in control when kicking a couple of lengths clear over a furlong out in the 10-furlong contest, but was chased down late on by the 7/2 joint favourite.

Reese Holohan got a good tune from the New Bay gelding to secure a neck success.

Trainer John Nallen said: “He’s a tough, honest, little horse and he keeps improving.

“He’s a horse that was for sale, but nobody gave me enough for him, they were all laughing at me!

“We’re looking at the race that Minella Study won in Wetherby at the end of October last year (Wensleydale Juvenile Hurdle). He’s probably a horse for any place in the world after doing that.”

Winning start

Wie Wunderbar was another making a winning start for a new yard, when landing the Hartes Group Apprentice Handicap for Jessica Harrington.

The German-import was prominent throughout for Keithen Kennedy and led a furlong out to beat Sinbad My Dad by a length and three-quarters, at odds of 7/1.

“She came from Arqana about eight weeks ago. She’s a nice filly, she did everything right today and it was great,” said Harrington.

“We’ll keep her in this grade, that’s where I’d say she probably belongs. We’ll try and get another one with her.”