Rocky Sky delivers a knockout blow in Salsabil

There was a shock in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Salsabil Stakes when 33/1 chance Rocky Sky was in the front rank throughout before staying on strongly for a wide-margin success.

Ross O’Sullivan’s filly, owned by Catherine and Mick Kinane, disputed the lead before kicking on entering the straight.

Her rivals couldn’t make any inroads into her advantage in the final quarter mile and the daughter of Rock Of Gibraltar, a maiden winner at Dundalk in February, passed the post four and a quarter lengths clear of French Fusion (33/1) with Sacre Rhyme (12/1) shaping like a real mile-and-a-half filly back in third.

The 13/8 favourite Willow didn't pick up in the straight and finished seventh.

It was a first Stakes winner for O’Sullivan and also for winning jockey Gary Halpin who said: “She's a grand filly. I thought the handicapper was very lenient on her when he gave her 83 after she was second to a very nice filly of Joseph's (My Generation) the last day in Dundalk, albeit in a messy race.

“I knew coming here today that stepping up in trip and getting on to the grass she'd be very competitive.

“She'll come forward again from today. She's an exciting filly and it's very nice to ride a winner for Mr and Mrs Kinane and all the team at Castlefarm Stud.

“She's a very nice filly going forward. She has plenty of pace and I'd say a mile-and-a-quarter is okay for now, I wouldn't be in any rush to go a mile-and-a-half with her as she has loads of pace.

“She hasn't done anything wrong so far and the world is her oyster at the minute. She's a good filly.”

Quotes from Gary Carson