Aaraas leaves it late in opener The opening two-year-old maiden at Navan produced a thrilling finish with the judge proving busy. Aaraas got the verdict as she flew home to pip Perfect Godess by the narrowest of margins. The runner-up had duelled throughout with Cheerful Giver and just looked to have done enough close home to prevail. Declan McDonogh got a great tune from Aaraas in the last 50 yards, however, after the Kevin Prendergast-trained filly had looked booked for fourth inside the final furlong. David Wachman's newcomer Self Preservation had also stayed on into contention inside the final furlong but had no extra close home and finished fourth. Cheerful Giver was just ahead in third, a length off the runner-up. "She's a nice type of filly and when she steps up in trip she'll be even better," said Fabian Burke, Prendergast's travelling head lad. "She came on a lot from her run at the Curragh and the boss is very happy with her. "I didn't think she had got up and Declan wasn't sure - and he's usually good at knowing."
