Farrell & Hayes take Fairyhouse feature with Xenobia

Xenobia got up close home to beat Could It Be Love in the feature at Fairyhouse, the Group 3 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Brownstown Stakes.

Successful on her seasonal debut at Leopardstown in April, the Bill Farrell trained four-year-old then went down by just three parts of a length in the Athasi Stakes at Naas.

Fifth of sixth in a Group 2 at the Curragh on her last start, the daughter Falco opened at 16/1 on-course this afternoon, before going off a 12/1 chance in the colours of owner Paolo Neri.

Settled in fourth by Chris Hayes, the chestnut victor took closer order and was ridden from two furlongs out.

She looked held in second from the furlong pole, but stayed on powerfully in the closing stages, getting up to beat the 5/6 favourite Could It Be Love by half a length.

The runner-up was sent on from the two furlong pole, but she couldn’t see it out under Donnacha O’Brien, and had to settle for second.

The front pair were a length and three parts ahead of 50/1 chance Damelsfly in third.

Farrell said afterwards: "It's the first day he's got to ride a race on her. They went a good pace and he was able to drop her in. She's probably learning as she's going along. She has her moments and has a high IQ but it's taken us a while to get her to listen to us.

"Samuel (son and assistant) does all the work with her, and it's a complete and utter credit to him. He rides her out and does a very good job with her.

"She may be still progressive. I'm not sure how good the race was but she's done it well. I'm not sure where we are going but we put her in the Matron.

"We were a bit worried about the ground and came here today to avoid Killarney and Galway as I didn't want to go to either place for those fillies' races.

"Peter Roe (manager of Fairyhouse) has done a terrific job with the ground and it's a real credit to him. There is a little bit of juice in it and its safe firm ground."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee