Calissa gains important brackets

Pat Smullen recorded a double at Dundalk this evening when giving Calissa a strong ride to claim the fillies maiden.

Front-runner Rose Angel kicked for home turning for home in the mile contest but was soon pursued by Peter Fahey's filly.

Smullen drove her into the lead at the furong pole and she stuck to her task well inside the final furlong to post a length success.

Sherzam kept on to grab the runner-up spot ahead of fellow 2/1 joint-favourite Nomoneynohoney

The winner didn't do unbacked as she was 14/1 this morning and was returned 6/1 on course.

She had been placed twice in maidens last summer but had been well beaten when tried on this surface on her final start last September.

The daughter of Danehill Dancer was bought of out Jessica Harrington's yard since her last outing and is owned by Fahey's wife Bernadette Leigh.

She is also sister to Andrew Leigh, who rides for Harrington, and Fahey revealed that the jockey suggested they buy the filly.

“She was for sale and came highly recommended from Andrew.

“She's a filly that's improving with time. She probably needs a bit further but Pat said she settled well and he gave her a peach of a ride. Everything went according to plan.

“The main thing was to get a win with her as her dam was very good. She'll be one for breeding in time.”

The dam Mauralakana was a 11-times winner in France and the US and was successful at the highest level when claiming the Grade 1 Beverly D Stakes at Arlington.

Pat Smullen had also landed the opening contest aboard Indian Landing

There was a running and riding enquiry into the performance of the seventh-placed Kiss Goodnight in this race.

The stewards found that the filly had not run on her merits and she was banned from racing for 42 days.

Jockey Derek McCormack received a 14-day ban while trainer John Murphy was given a €1,500 fine.

(Additional reporting by Alan Magee)