Azada looks useful in Leopardstown opener

Azada looks a filly to note for next season after making a winning debut in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden at Leopardstown this afternoon.

The Aga Khan’s homebred daughter of Siyouni coped well with the very testing conditions - going officially heavy and the meeting only got the go ahead after an early morning inspection - under a patient ride by Leigh Roche. Fleur De Chine travelled well to lead early in the straight and was challenged by 9/4 favourite Harbour Gem a furlong out before Azada was produced with her effort.

The 4/1 chance led over 100 yards out and kept on well to beat Harbour Gem by two and a half lengths, with Fleur De Chine a further half-a-length away in third.

The trio pulled ten lengths clear of the remainder.

Winning trainer Dermot Weld’s son and assistant Kris said: “The ground is atrocious but we are lucky to be here at all. She is a beautifully bred filly and she came home well when the penny dropped. To come from there on that kind of ground and win you would have to be impressed.

“Hopefully she will make up into a Stakes filly next year. She is a big, immature filly and you would like to think there will be an awful lot of improvement in her. There is plenty to look forward to and she can go up in distance.”