Favourite backers go home happy from Sligo Pat Smullen narrowly lost out to Billy Lee earlier in the evening when Rock Critic failed by a short head to catch I'll Be Your Clown. Roles were reversed in the finale with Harasava (9/10 favourite) holding off B Cosmos by three parts of a length in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden at Sligo. Smullen was keen to get the first-time visored daughter of Azamour to the front, and she never relinquished pole position after being pushed to the front inside the opening furlong. Lee got a decent finishing effort out of B Cosmos, but Smullen was strong on the Aga Khan and Dermot Weld grey as she held on pretty well. "The drop back in trip wasn't ideal and the ground was probably quick enough for her but she's tough and stays and I made use of her stamina," said Smullen. S. Corby, rider of Wider World trained by K.J. Condon, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount was reluctant to come out of stalls, losing substantial ground. (GC & EM)
