Zalanga lands treble for Halford

Michael Halford completed a terrific evening in the concluding maiden at Dundalk as Zalanga landed a treble for the Kildare handler.

Shane Foley did the steering on the Aga Kha filly as she got off the mark in good style.

The daughter of Azamour was produced to lead a furlong from home and kept on strongly in the closing stages to record a two-and-a-half length success.

The winner had shown plenty of promise when third on her debut here before a disappointing effort at Leopardstown last time. She was sent off 10/1 on the back on that run.

"That was a reallly good race for here and I suppose it's because people have been frustrated with the ground with horses," said Halford.

"She had a lovely first run here and I don't know what happened at Leopardstown - I'll die not knowing.

"She just got lost around there and never got it together. If she hadn't run at Leopardstown I would have been more confident today.

"Shane gave her a brilliant ride. She's a filly that you have to let find her own pace and take your time. He rode her with great confidence.

"We'll see what the handicapper does. She'll want fast ground or this surface. She's a filly I think has plenty of improvement as she's big and scopey."

Halford had teamed up earlier with Conor Hoban for the victories of Grand Heiress and Russian Soul