Small Oasis and Gavin Ryan impress in Curragh maiden © Photo Healy Racing
Small Oasis came on from a very promising debut at Naas to easily land the opening William Hill Free Or 4 Irish EBF Maiden at the Curragh.
An eyecatching third on her initial outing at the County Kildare track earlier this month, the daughter of Sioux Nation showed the benefit of that experience with a thoroughly professional performance.
Always travelling sweetly in the hands of Gavin Ryan, the Michael Grassick trained filly came there hard held at the furlong pole and only needed to be pushed out to easily land the prize.
The winner is owned by John Nolan, father of UK based jockey David(Nolan).
“It's nice to have an exciting one,” said winning trainer Michael Grassick.
“We were surprised she ran as green as she did at Naas but she finished it off well. You could see then she never really got into top gear at all.
“She was working well at home, and we liked her, but I don't dip the tank at home. I like to just bring them on but nowadays you seem to get lost when you go to the races like that as everyone has them so finely tuned.
“Some of mine might be out the back first time but they'll improve ten lengths the next day. I like to bring them on that way as I feel you get longer out of them.
“We thought she'd have a chance of winning today but didn't think she'd win like that. I think she really appreciates a bit of juice in the ground.
“It wasn't easy to do what she did, coming up the middle of the track like that. I was keen for him to get a bit of cover on her.
“Thank God we stuck her in the Guineas the other day. We had her in the CL Weld Park Stakes, we had her declared, but took her out in the last five minutes and said we'd try and win a maiden first. I think she probably could have won it off that performance.
“We'll try and find a black-type race now for her, she'll stay seven.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson.
