THE lightly-raced Zhukova edged out her stablemate Almela to claim a precious blacktype triumph in the Ardilaun Hotel Oyster Stakes which was the centrepiece of a superb four-timer for Dermot Weld.
A daughter of Weld’s Irish 1000 Guineas winner Nightime and bred by the trainer’s late mother, Marguerite, the Fastnet Rock filly came here off a solid fourth in a Group 3 at Cork last time.
However, it was Almela (evens) who was a hot favourite to give Weld a first Oyster Stakes triumph since 2001 following her 19 lengths debut triumph at this track last month.
Between them the pair of lightly-raced fillies served up a stirring finish after they went toe to toe up front from before the straight. From early in the last furlong the Leigh Roche-ridden Zhukova (7/1) looked to hold a marginal advantage and she stuck to her task doggedly to carry the day by a head. Ebayya flew home to finish a further length and a half back.
“They are two very nice fillies and the winner came here off a good run at Cork,” said Weld who trains winner for Mrs C.C. Regalado-Gonzalez.
“They more or less ran how they worked the other day although the second might just have worked a shade better that day. The winner just had the edge in experience and that carried the day.
“The second filly is an immature sort who will improve throughout the rest of the season and she could go to Naas next month for a new mile and a half listed race, the Bluebell Stakes. Zhukova will also run once more, possibly in the Group 3 Princess Royal Stakes in the UK. Both fillies will stay in training next year.”
Earlier the Weld-trained juvenile Ebediyin (6/1) got the meeting underway with a taking debut success in the Donnelly’s Of Barna EBF Maiden.
The son of Raven’s Pass and the Irish Oaks winner Ebadiyla coped well with the unique demands of Galway and travelled sweetly throughout for Pat Smullen.
As the runners rounded the last bend, the Aga Khan-owned runner went in pursuit of the leading pair of Cole Porter and Al Mohalhal and he cut them down late on for a cosy head success.
“He’s a lovely colt. At home he’s idle and lazy but it’s not a surprise he won. He’s a horse to look forward to and if he runs again this season it will be in the Eyrefield Stakes at Leopardstown next month,” declared Weld.
The other two-year-old contest also went the way of Weld, Smullen and the Aga Khan as Simannka (9/4) dug deep in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Fillies Maiden.
The daughter of Mastercraftsman had been placed on her three previous outings, including when chasing home Now Or Never here in July, and showed a fine attitude in first time blinkers.
Simannka did battle with fellow Aga Khan-owned runner Rayisa from over a furlong out and eventually gained the upper hand as the line loomed.
“She deserved that. She’s been running consistently and the one concern was her outside draw,” declared the Rosewell House trainer. “I did think she was a better filly than we got to see here during the summer and the blinkers sharpened her up tonight. I’d say that will be it for this season.”
Pat Smullen then brought up a treble as Alveena completed the Weld four-timer in the Sean Cleary Memorial Maiden. Another Aga Khan-owned runner, this 78-rated daughter of Medicean was only denied by the narrowest of margins at Wexford last time.
The 5/2 shot pounced deep inside the final furlong of this mile and a half contest to come home a length in front of the dead-heaters Fiorbheim and Spin Point.
“She was a shade unlucky not to win at Wexford and made it for it today. She will go for a handicap next,” observed the winning trainer.
Johann Bach (7/1), who could bid for Irish Champions Weekend glory at the Curragh tomorrow, was much too good for the opposition in the Galway Bay Golf Resort Handicap over an extended mile.
Gary Halpin’s mount, who some 8lb higher than when scoring at Gowran last month, mastered the front running Botanical Lady early in the straight for a decisive three and a quarter lengths win over the top-weight So Sensible.
“He’s improved from his last run and the low draw was a big help today. He’s in the valuable Northfields Handicap at the Curragh on Sunday, I put him in there as I’ve thought a lot of him from day one,” stated Rhode-based trainer Patrick Harney, whose mother, Mary, owns the six-year-old.
The unexposed Best Not Argue (4/1) made her first venture outside of maiden company a successful one in the James P. Cunningham Electrical Handicap.
A couple of solid runs in maidens here and at Killarney during the summer meant that this imposing filly looked nicely treated off an initial rating of 67 and she duly took advantage under Colin Keane. The 4/1 chance swept by Ohh Lala and Dawn Mirage early in the last furlong and she finished with a length to spare over Splashtop.
John Joseph Murphy, who trains the filly for Peter Fagan and Niall O’Rourke, commented: “She’s a big filly who has improved with every run and she looked to be on a nice mark. Hopefully she has more to give.”
Shamar sprang a surprise for Armagh-based owner-trainer Keith Watson as he ran out a clear cut winner of the mile and a half apprentice riders’ handicap.
The 25/1 chance hadn’t won for over two years but it didn’t take him long to put the result beyond doubt when he picked off Ridestan to lead inside the last quarter of a mile. Shamar was a length and three quarters too strong for Brokopondo.