Dagoda beats Paradise Perfect (blue cap) © Photo Healy Racing
As Jerry Hannon said in commentary when she crossed the line, the victory of Dagoda in the Bord Na Mona Recycling Maiden was "a triumph for perseverance."
On her 24th start, the 11/4 favourite tracked the leaders before being sent to the front a furlong-and-a-half out and was ridden out to beat Paradise Perfect by two-and-a-quarter lengths.
Formerly with Sheila Lavery, the five-year-old daughter of Starspangledbanner had finished second in two of her previous four starts this season.
Winning trainer Jennifer Lynch said: “I'm delighted she got it for her. Seamie was brilliant on her, we left him to his own devices.
“J D Moore bought her for us at the breeding stock sale in Goffs in November and I was delighted to get her.
“The new connections have bought her to breed in the new year so we'll run away with her for the autumn and see what else we get.”
Winning rider Seamie Heffernan added: "She likes getting her toe in. She ran very well in a maiden on soft ground two runs ago. The last day it was a messy race, she got unbalanced and I left her alone.
"Barry (Cash) and Jennifer do all the work and she was pretty much a steering job today.
"Sometimes we can be very hard on horses, calling them all sorts of names, when really they're not mature enough to show all of their ability.
"She tries hard and I could see her winning a handicap down the line."
Quotes from Gary Carson
