Mick Channon`s Golden Silca got back on the winning trail in the Group Three Ridgewood Pearl Desmond Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday.
A close fourth to Giant`s Causeway in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood earlier this month, Golden Silca, a 7-4 chance, had to survive a stewards` inquiry after barging her way through a gap between her two rivals inside the two-furlong marker before going three and a half lengths clear.
In-form jockey Johnny Murtagh was praised by Channon`s assistant Mark Wallace for his efforts, but received a two-day suspension for careless riding in the incident that prompted the inquiry.
'Johnny has given Golden Silca a lovely ride, because she has to be covered up and that`s not easy with just three runners. She is such a tough and genuine filly she deserved that success,' said Wallace.
For owner-breeder Eddie Aldridge it was a memorable afternoon as Golden Silca`s younger half-brother Silca Legend won the opening race at Chester.
Duck Row, who wasthe victim of Murtagh`s ploy, just held on to second money by the minimum margin from the pace-setting Muakaad.
There was a dramatic finish to the Listed Debutante Fillies Stakes that followed, with the favourite Sequoyah caught right on the line by 7-1 chance Affianced from the Jim Bolger stable.
Imagine, a newcomer from the Aidan O`Brien stable, made most of the running and seemed to have set up the race for her stablemate Sequoyah when the favourite went to the front inside the final furlong.
However, Kevin Manning had other ideas as the blinkered Affianced, who had been last two furlongs out, got into top gear and swooped to gain the day by a short head.
Affianced had to survive a stewards` inquiry before being confirmed the winner.
