Ebazziyr (right) gets up to beat Afatcat at Gowran© Photo Healy Racing
If pedigree means anything Ebazziyr had to have a deal of ability and the son of Cape Cross made a winning start in the first split of the Jackie Tyrrell & Glanbia (Pro/Am) Flat Race at Gowran.
Those that supported the 3/1 favourite would have had their concerns when James Leavy's charge was pushed along in tenth place with half a mile left to race.
Out of a dual classic winner in Ebadiyla (Irish Oaks and French Leger) Ebazziyr, with Robbie McNamara up, hit top gear down the outer in the straight. Afatcat looked sure to score from over a furlong out but he was mown down inside the final hundred yards – Ebazziyr (a half-brother to Ebaziyan, 2007 Supreme Novices' winner) being half a length up at the line.
Leavy, without success since Spreeksteen scored at Downpatrick in May 2010, commented: "He's a very good horse and I've been waiting on that ground.
"I think he's a right horse but he had to do it here like what he'd been showing us at home.
"He's a horse with a big future and I don't think he'll go to Punchestown. He's more likely to run at the Curragh (the bumper that Bouillabaisse won last year)." (TW & EM)
