Aviatrice and Luke McAteer© Photo Healy Racing
David Marnane and Luke McAteer combined for a third win at Dundalk this month, as they claimed the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden with Aviatrice
A runner-up on recent starts at the all-weather venue, the Phoenix Of Spain bay was sent off a 3/1 chance this evening, with Lunigiana returned the clear market leader at 10/11.
Tracking the leaders on the inner, the 70-rated victor was pushed along from early in the straight and got to the front when ridden over a furlong from home, keeping on well from there to score by a length and three-quarters.
The aforementioned favourite finished second under Billy Lee for Willie McCreery, while Alan McIntyre's Happy For Evva (12/1 from 33s early) was a length and a quarter back in third.
The winner was bought by MRC International for €17,000 at the Goffs Orby Sale and is out of Virtudes, who coincidentally won a maiden for McCreery.
"She's a lovely filly," Marnane said in the aftermath.
"She was a bit green and raw, but she bumped into two very nice colts. To be fair, the one two runs ago (Dark Ace), he came out and won the winners' race and is a 90 plus horse. The horse of Johnny Feane's (Forza Toro) is definitely a 90 plus horse.
"We'll put her away now and she has qualified for the All-Weather Finals in Newcastle (on Good Friday) - the three-year-old final over six furlongs. We'll give her a break now and bring her back for that. We will consider it anyway.
"She found the line well the last day over seven (furlongs), so maybe seven on the turf.
"Actually, she has done well to win because she is going to end up being a good, big, strong filly. I'd say she is a nice filly."
STEWARDS REPORTS
R. Whearty, rider of Elegante Lady, trained by Adrian Murray, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount ran keen and clipped a heel.
W.J. Lee, rider of Lunigiana, trained by W. McCreery, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount was slowly away from the stalls.
Additional reporting by Michael Graham
