Eldama strides home under Oisin Orr© Photo Healy Racing
Dermot Weld's Eldama justified favouritism in ready style in the opening three-year-old fillies' maiden over a mile at Leopardstown.
None of the 14 runners had raced before, as per the conditions of the race, but 2/1 favourite Eldama was popular with punters on account of her glut of big-race entries including the Group One Pretty Polly and Irish Oaks.
The daughter of Siyouni strode on powerfully approaching the final furlong and soon took a couple of lengths out of the pursuers.
She only had to be pushed out by Oisin Orr to account for Bearberry (28/1) by a length and three quarters. Amiko Chow finished well on the outer to get up for third at 8/1.
Johnny Murtagh 's Laggata showed up nicely before dropping to fourth in the closing stages.
Assistant trainer Kris Weld said: “She’s a nice filly. Our horses are a little bit behind because they are looking at the grass and saying that’s for eating and not necessarily for galloping on!
“The Curragh has been in drought since the last week of March, so training them hasn’t been the easiest.
“She’s done well from two to three physically and we’ll try to get her black type.
“That was a mile today and I’d imagine a mile and a quarter wouldn’t be a problem as her half-sister Edelmira won the Give Thanks over a mile and a half in Cork.
“She’s done that nicely today and you would have to be very pleased with her.”
This was a first winner since racing resumed last Monday for Orr and Weld.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
