Wendla and Colin Keane© Photo Healy Racing
Saddling his first runner of the turf season, Ger Lyons struck gold with Wendla in the opener at Naas this afternoon, the Dubawi Legend Irish EBF Fillies Maiden.
A fine second on debut at Cork in September, the Ulysses bay could only manage sixth on her second start at the Curragh the following month.
Sent off an easy-to-back 11/2 chance today (7/2 early), the Colin Keane ridden victor was settled behind the leaders on the inner and needed to be switched to the outer from the two-furlong pole.
Pushed along to challenge with 200 yards to race, she soon edged to the front and was ridden clear in the closing stages, coming home two-and-a-half lengths to the good.
On what was her debut for Dermot Weld, Harbour Gem (5/2) couldn't match the winner inside the final furlong and had to settle for second, with Mo Ghille Mar (7/1) another two-and-a-half lengths back in third.
Returned the 10/11 favourite, the regally-bred Fleetingly was struggling upon entering the straight and eventually finished a disappointing sixth.
"Colin said to me she'd win if she did what we've seen at home. It's about whether they handle the ground or not," said Lyons.
"We said we'd throw the mud at the wall and see what sticks, they are working today instead of yesterday.
"She's a nice filly and it's nice to get the maidens out of the way with the likes of her and Sakti (won at Dundalk on Friday).
"We thought if she handles that ground if one of the trials comes up soft then we have one for it and if it turns up good we've one for it too.
"I'm not saying they are Guineas horses or anything, they've to prove that, but at the minute we've won our maiden and they are horses we would like to be going to a trial with and see where the ceiling is in time.
"Chris was keeping her in there and it gives you that chance to get that breath as well. She has ability. If he'd kept her in and she wasn't able to get back up you would have accepted but it's nice to just win the maiden and get on with it now.
"There's nothing that gets going until after Punchestown so that gives us a chance to take a breather and obviously the trials are what I wanted to aim at. Ultimately it's all about stakes race with all the horses."
STEWARDS REPORT
The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Fleetingly (USA), trained by A.P.O'Brien, at the request of the Raceday Stewards and reported the animal to have a small wound on the inside of the right fore shin but was otherwise post race normal.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
