My Titania, yellow, assumes the lead in Leopardstown© Photo Healy Racing
The opening fillies’ maiden over seven furlongs at Leopardstown on Irish Champion Stakes day was dominated by Sea The Stars offspring as My Titania led home Afternoon Sunlight
My Titania (6/4) raced just off front-running The Butche’s Filly in second before easing to the head of affairs on the home bend. Afternoon Sunlight (6/1) who had been fourth throughout, set off in pursuit, but was unable to peg back My Titania who scored by two and a quarter lengths.
“I always thought she was a sharp two-year-old type. Normally she would have run earlier in the year, but she had a little setback and that’s why she didn’t run until a few weeks ago,” successful trainer John Oxx said.
“She’s sharp enough to win over six, but got to the line well and she stays seven or a mile. I thought this would have been his [Sea The Stars] first two-year-old winner a while back.
“It’s nice to win here. This is always a good maiden. The next step will be a Group 3, maybe the CL Weld Stakes in three weeks, but she has to have fast ground so wouldn’t want the weather to change.”
In talking about his season, Oxx commented: “You always have ups and downs, but this year has been exceptional. We had a very bad herpes virus and the horses were very flat.
“We didn’t have many three-year-olds, but have a nice crop of two-year-olds. Looking at the three-year-olds maybe they wouldn’t have won much even if they were healthy and well.
“It has been a bad year, but it’s a temporary little difficulty.”
David Wachman’s unraced Lahinch Classics (who holds an entry in the Group 1 fillies’ mile at Newmarket) performed well on her first racecourse outing as she came in third at 25/1, three lengths off runner-up Afternoon Sunlight. Shell House the 11/8 favourite for Aidan and Joseph O'Brien, finished sixth and was reported to be lame behind afterwards.
My Titania was backed in from 9/4 to 6/4 on course. She was improving on a second place on debut over six furlongs at Leopardstown when beaten by subsequent Tattersalls Ireland Super Auctions Sales Stakes winner Vallado.
My Titania was introduced at 20/1 for the 1,000 Guineas by bookmaker Paddy Power.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
