Hayyel strides clear with Seamie Heffernan in the plate© Photo Healy Racing
Hayyel was a dominant winner of Leopardstown’s mile handicap under Seamie Heffernan.
The five-year-old mare chased the leaders into the straight, and was ridden to deliver her challenge down the middle of the track approaching the final furlong.
She readily swept to the front in the final 150 yards and stormed four lengths clear at 12/1. Darkened took minor honours in second at 11/2 by half a length from Cracking Name (14/1). Swiss Army Officer completed the placings in this 16-runner handicap at 14/1.
Trainer Richard Brabazon said: “She's a lovely filly and the only bad run she has ever run was in Killarney.
“I would have fancied her a lot today but we couldn't put our finger on that performance. We were really just hoping she would go back to her old form.
“That puts her on the brink of good handicaps now. Seamie was saying he should have only won by two lengths but I said 'no it's the one time I want weight to get into a good race'.
“That'll probably be the plan but it depends on the handicapper.
“She has run over a distance so she really would have stayed the mile and a lot more, that would have helped today.
“She's by Dark Angel out of a Galileo mare so she's entitled to be nice.
“If we had a normal year God knows where we'd be at this stage but that's only her third race.
“Seamie said getting her settled is the secret and not doing too much. She can get a bit excited and when you are saddling her you are always just trying to keep a lid on it.
“You want her a little bit lively but not to lose it and she just got it all right today.
“We might have a crack at the good ten furlong handicap at the Curragh on Champions Weekend.
“Maybe it's dreaming, and maybe she might not even get into the race, but it's a possibility and she had to win like that for it to be a possibility.”
This was Hayyel’s second career victory on her 11th start. Her other win came in a maiden at Sligo in June last year.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
