Aliyfa splashes way to Listed success Aliyfa splashed her way to success in the €52,500 Listed Ardilaun Hotel Oyster Stakes at Galway. The course was hit by torrential rain and the track was lying in water as the five runner made their way to the start. A small river had developed beside the parade ring. Red Rock Canyon set out in his customary front-running role but only made it to half way before coming under pressure. The Bull Hayes took it up but he was headed by English raider Allied Powers two furlongs out. Michael Bell's charge started to flounder in the straight, however, and Mick Kinane, who had charted a wide course turning in, got Aliyfa to the front inside the final furlong. The Bull Hayes stayed on again to second, chasing the winner home by half a length. "The one thing she has is heart and she deserves to win a Listed race," said trainer John Oxx's assistant Jimmy 'Slim' O'Neill. "She's ran her guts out twice when doing pacemaker. I'm delighted for her. "She obviously goes on soft but I don't know what you would call that. Our jockey had a look on the way down and said there was one strip. It's down to him as much as anything." Racing was abandoned after the contest.
