Naas brace for Ballydoyle Elfin Queen (13/8 favourite) completed a Naas double for Aidan O’Brien and Seamie Heffernan in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden. More Beautiful had been impressive for the pair in the opener, and Elfin Queen was very good also, defeating Aunt Bee (another excellent effort from a Jessica Harrington runner) and Getawiggleon by six and a half lengths and three parts of a length. A three-year-old daughter of 2015 Triple Crown hero, American Pharoah, Elphin Queen was very well backed to break her duck on outing number four, after finishing seventh, fourth and third in three outings as a juvenile. “She had three ok runs last year and she’s strengthened up a good bit. She won well today and hopefully she will keep progressing,” said Heffernan. The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Abeona, trained by G.M.Lyons, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal. (AM & EM)
