In-foal Akiliyna springs a surprise Cillian's Return's late defection owing to the going opened up the Tote Best Value For The Galway Festival Maiden and the pre-race attention focussed on strong favourite Tetraites and the gambled-on Sir Issac. The bookmakers got a result though when 20/1 chance Akiliyna proved utterly dominant under Colm O'Donoghue at Ballinrobe. On outing number five and having her second start for owner/trainer Shane Duffy, having been with Dermot Weld and Prunella Dobbs previously, Akiliyna hit the front early in the back straight. She struck for home from over three furlongs out and none of her rivals could live with her from there. Akiliyna eventually powered home by thirteen lengths and half a length from West Montan and Hudson's Bay. "I spoke to Pat Smullen before the first time I rode her in Killarney and they thought an awful lot of her in Welds. She showed plenty," revealed O'Donoghue. "She's in foal and today was her last day. She ran a good race carrying ten stone the last day. We went quite slow over the mile and six then. "She handled the cut in the ground and she had a nice racing weight." S. Foley, rider of Tetraites, trained by Ross O'Sullivan, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount ran flat throughout this race. (DM & EM)
