La Hacienda strikes Gold in the Kingdom

La Hacienda made it three wins from her last four starts as she claimed the most valuable prize on offer at Killarney this evening, the Mongey Communications Kingdom Gold Cup Handicap.

The Matthew Smith trained five-year-old made the breakthrough on these shores when successful at Leopardstown last month and while she finished seventh on the Wednesday of the Galway Festival, she went in again when making a quick reappearance on the Friday.

Sent off at 11/1 this evening, the daughter of Free Eagle was settled in second by Mikey Sheehy, with her stable mate No Thanks at the head of affairs.

Pushed along to lead with less than two furlongs to race, she extended her advantage when ridden and came home a length to the good in the colours of the ABD Syndicate. Away To Sea (8/1) finished strongly to take second under Niall McCullagh for Joe Murphy, while McTigue (16/1) was three-parts-of-a-length back in third. Herring Island was sent off the easy-to-back 7/2 favourite and he finished a very disappointing thirteenth.

"She is improving all the time and was impressive. She travelled, quickened up and I'm delighted," Smith said.

"Last year we couldn't get any weight on her when she came over (from Germany) but things have fallen into place for her now.

"When it initially looked like she would be a flop, there wasn't a word out of the owners and they deserve luck as they put plenty of money into her.

"She is exempt from ballot for the Cesarewitch now having won this race and we'll run as it's a huge pot and she is improving away."

STEWARDS REPORTS

D.P. McDonogh, rider of Herring Island trained by Joseph Patrick O'Brien, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount hung in the straight.

L.T. McAteer, rider of Dame Rapide trained by Barry J. Fitzgerald, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount was keen the whole way.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes