Brave Anna, number one, makes the best way home© Photo Healy Racing
Brave Anna stepped up on her debut run to win going away in the fillies' maiden that got Guineas weekend under way at the Curragh.
This six-furlong race was subject to a delay of almost 10 minutes as Pepperminty (16/1) got loose and then refused to load. Magical Fire (7/2) was also withdrawn after being dismounted at the start. This saw a Rule 4 deduction of 25 cent in the euro to all bets.
Only three horses were a factor and it was horses with previous experience - How Lady Beware and Brave Anna.
Aidan O'Brien 's How broke well to lead under Ryan Moore with Lady Beware chasing her in second and O'Brien second-string Brave Anna tracking in third.
With over two furlongs to travel, How was still travelling well with the other jockeys in behind exerting their arms.
Heffernan switched Brave Anna out at the furlong pole and she began to launch her challenge. Lady Beware had got on terms with How at this stage but the pair were mowed down inside the final 100 yards as Brave Anna finished the best to win by a length.
She was returned at 9/2. Lady Beware (14/1) pipped 13/8 favourite How for second by a neck.
Aidan O'Brien said: "She came home well and is a sister to Hit It A Bomb who got a mile well. She can certainly step up to seven furlongs now. Ryan's horse (How) was a bit keen in front and got a bit tired."
"I'm a bit worried about the ground for Air Force Blue We'll have to have a chat now and then decide. Today would help us to know whether to stay at a mile or go back to six furlongs at Royal Ascot. I really believe he's a very quick horse.
"We had a similar decision to run or not in the National Stakes last year, and we decided to run in order to know if he would handle the ground for this year. He got away with it that day but he has another furlong to go now."
Seamie Heffernan added: "She had a lovely run at Naas [in eighth]. Ryan's is a very, very quick filly and I'd say there is soft in the ground now so my one got home better than the two in front.
"She has a great pedigree, she's bred to be good so hopefully she ends up being good."
Brave Anna is a full sister to the unbeaten Hit It A Bomb who won the Grade One Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland last October.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
