Shamida and Chris Hayes win the Leopardstown Fillies Maiden for trainer Dermot Weld. © Photo Healy Racing
Having finished third on her two previous visits to the track, the Dermot Weld trained Shamida made the breakthrough in determined fashion when winning the Leopardstown Fillies Maiden under Chris Hayes.
Sent off evens favourite on the back of her previous efforts, the Aga Khan owned filly briefly looked in trouble early in the straight, as the Aidan O'Brien duo Water Nymph and Scarlett O'Hara kicked on.
However, Chris Hayes had the move covered, closing right up on their tails before delivering a challenge. Water Nymph dropped away but Scarlett O'Hara battled on well and it was only inside the final 150 yards that supporters of the favourite could relax.
“I think it was a very good maiden, they ran it from pillar to post. Ryan brought them some gallop and I think you'll see a lot of winners coming out of that race,” said Weld.
“I was very pleased with our filly, she's progressive and hopefully we can go on and get some black-type with her next time.
“She's a filly that's coming forward, every time she's run she's run better. I think she'll continue to progress. It was a good ride from Chris.
“All ours are just coming nicely now. I said a couple of weeks before the English Guineas that I really needed two more weeks. They are doing what I thought they would do.
“We've a smaller team of horses this year and I've got to be selective where I run them. The competition is tougher than ever and I'm very pleased with the way they have been performing.
“I'm very pleased the way my two jockeys, Chris Hayes and Leigh Roche, are riding.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
