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IRELAND: Tapestry Looks Smart Prospect

3 minute read

Aidan O'Brien's impeccably bred youngster Tapestry came fast and late to make a winning debut in the Hanlon Concrete EBF Fillies Maiden at the Curragh.

Seamie Heffernan bided his time on the Ballydoyle 'second string' (7-1) as stablemate Snow, the mount of Joseph O'Brien, raced in a more prominent position behind the pace set by Chroussa.

Once the jockey urged Tapestry on, the response was impressive as the daughter of Galileo and dual Group One winner Rumplestiltskin produced a decisive turn of foot in the final half-furlong to overhaul Chroussa for a half-length success.

The Ballydoyle handler, whose charge is now positioned high in the 1000 Guineas market, said: "She's obviously a lovely filly and has a great pedigree. She's still a baby and has not been asked to do too much at home. We'll probably look at something like the Debutante Stakes."

David Wachman's filly Fly To The Moon (5-1), who showed very little in three outings in maidens, capitalised on her handicap mark to win the equisoftlive.com Nursery under Wayne Lordan, edging out favourite The Organ Grinder by a neck close home.

The trainer said: "Wayne gave her a very good ride. It was a big drop in class from the maidens she was running in and it was probably an ordinary nursery."

Emmet McNamara had to show patience on 11-4 joint-favourite Toccata Blue in the Irish Field Grey Horse Handicap as he was stuck in a pocket until the furlong pole, but once in the clear Ger Lyons' three-year-old collared Susiescot to win by a length.

The trainer said: "There's nothing of him and in the parade ring he looked like a foal compared to everything else. Still he's won three now and Emmet gets on well with him. It's a bit of a gimmick of a race (for greys) and I'm not sure if I agree with it, but it's nice to win any race."

Italian jockey Jessica Marcialis showed her ability for the second successive year at the Curragh when she won the Irish leg of the Fegentri World Championship races for lady riders on Ado McGuinness's great servant Beau Michael.

Now the winner of 15 races on the Flat and over jumps, the nine-year-old (10-1) hit the front a furlong out and beat Crystal Earth by three-quarters of a length, after which the trainer admitted: "I wasn't expecting that, but every time you just start to lose faith in him he keeps coming back. He's been a brilliant servant."