There were plenty of punters out there this morning willing to take on Sirikoi with Emiest Rose in the www.dundalkstadium.com Maiden but ultimately the former came out nicely on top under Wayne Lordan.

Lordan returned to the fray after his exploits in Australia – where he rode a winner but principally steered Slade Power in his career swansong. The Corkman kept it pretty simple here aboard the victorious grey.

He sat second as Jesmond Lodge cut it out and he got his filly to the front two furlongs out.

Placed on her two previous starts Sirikoi fought off the aforementioned Emiest Rose inside the final furlong to prevail by a length and a quarter.

In the Mrs Jane Rowlinson colours, carried to victory in the 1998 Irish 1,000 Guineas by a teenage Jamie Spencer on Tarascon, Lordan revealed: "The last day she was a bit rushed off her feet but she had two nice runs and she was entitled to win that.

"In the end she's won with her ears pricked and as she's quite a big filly there should be more improvement to come." (AM & EM)