John Oxx has made a blistering start to the new Flat season, and the Curragh trainer brought his winning tally to 11 as Fairy Of The Night upset the odds laid on Maria Luisa with a successful debut in the nine furlongs fillies maiden.
The daughter of Danehill was confirmed the winner following a stewards enquiry as Michael Kinane's mount hung slightly right on the heavy ground after striking the front a furlong out before holding on by a neck from the frustrating favourite.
'She has been working well and hopefully will go on better ground. I'm not sure about her ideal distance as she's by Danehill but from a staying family,' said trainer John Oxx. The winner, who was bleeding afterwards from her near hind foot, is well entered up and could step up a grade next time for the Blue Wind Stakes at Naas or the Victor McCalmont Memorial Stakes back here later next month.
However Oxx suffered a number of reverses elsewhere on the card, with 5/2 favourite Dolce Voche tragically fracturing a pelvis soon after halfway in the nine furlongs handicap. Victory here went to the well-bred Akarem who defied top-weight under Chris Geoghegan, staying on well inside the final furlong to beat Cupid's Bow by two lengths. 'He seems to handle that ground well, and we may step him up now in the Saval Beg Stakes at Leopardstown next month,' said trainer Kevin Prendergast.
Zarata was fancied to complete a double for Oxx and Kinane in the mile and a half maiden but the 11/8 favourite dropped out tamely in the straight as the front-running Dillions Dilemma galloped clear in the final quarter mile for Seamus Heffernan to beat Prefontaine by 20 lengths. 'He likes it soft, and I hope that he'll make a nice jumper next year. He could go for a conditions race before the ground dries up, and we'll then give him a break,' said trainer Dusty Sheehy.
Tommy Stack and Ger Lyons are other trainers in good form this year, and the pair were also on the mark throughout the afternoon. Quasimodo also overcame the burden of top-weight as the Billy Lee-ridden gelding beat Brandon Mountain by two and a half lengths in the three-year-olds' handicap. 'He's been a hard horse to get fit but is very honest and sound, and we might bring him to Leopardstown on Sunday,' said Stack, who will send mudlark Tolpuddle to Sandown this Saturday for the Group 3 Betfred Gordon Richards Stakes. 'The ground is on the easy side at the moment, and there is the chance of more rain later in the week. Wayne Lordan will ride.'
Henry Afrika made a successful seasonal debut for Lyons in the seven furlongs handicap, leading over a furlong out under Tadhg O'Shea to beat Rosmaire by a length and a half. 'He was rated 102 in his prime but has had a number of little problems in-between. Keeping him sound is the main thing,' said the Co. Meath handler.
Alan Magee
