Gary Carson
Jean gives Stack plenty to Cheer about
Cheerupsleepyjean and Chris Hayes (centre)
© Photo Healy Racing
Cheerupsleepyjean quickened up in style to run out a cosy winner of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race on her debut at the Curragh.
The Fozzy Stack-trained filly travelled strongly throughout the five furlong contest and the 5/2 shot came between horses to lead a furlong out.
Chris Hayes asked her to go and win her race in the closing stages and the daughter of Starspangledbanner was pulling away at the line to record a two-and-a-quarter length win.
20/1 shot Charlie De Rio claimed the runner-up spot with 10/11 favourite Missing Matron a neck back in third.
It was quick compensation for Hayes and Stack after the narrow defeat of Castle Star in the opener and the winning trainer said:-
“She had been working well but hadn’t been away anywhere. There is probably plenty of improvement in her as she was quite green in front.
“She’s a fast filly and six is probably as far as she’ll ever get.
“It’s Noel O’Callaghan’s family, and she’s related to Dandy Man and Sandhurst Goddess.
“Hopefully she’ll come back here (on May 3rd) for a Listed race in about a fortnight. She might make into a Queen Mary or Albany filly.
“She did her best to get beat in the first furlong and a half. She was a bit startled and lit up. She is usually fairly relaxed at home and hopefully she will learn from that and be more professional the next day.”
(Quotes by Alan Magee)