Shavasi and Dylan Browne McMonagle © Photo Healy Racing
Having won the first two races on the opening night of the July festival, Joseph O'Brien and Dylan Browne McMonagle were back in the number one spot after the well supported Shavasi took the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden at Killarney.
A fast finishing third at Gowran Park last time, the daughter of Muhaarar was backed from 2/1 into 6/4f to step up two places here under McMonagle.
Quickly away from her wide draw, the O'Brien trained filly sat mid division in the initial stages as second favourite Shania took them along under Paddy Harnett.
McMonagle raced up to sit second on the eventual winner after a couple of furlongs, perhaps mindful not to allow his fellow market principal too much leeway.
Ridden to dispute early in the straight, Shavasi had to work hard to edge ahead inside the last 200 yards, keeping on strongly as Shania rallied on the inside for Harnett.
Dylan Browne McMonagle said: "It’s been fairly good to us the last couple of days, the horses are in good order and this was plain sailing. She’s a nice filly, and is progressing.
"She jumped well, was professional and was well on top at the line. She wasn’t doing a whole lot in front and I thought she was strong at the line.
“It took a little bit of time for her just to get into top gear and for the penny to drop but once I got a half-length up on her, she was always just doing what she needed to but I was always holding them off well.
“Being drawn out wide and the ground being fairly quick around here, it pays to be on the front end, so I was keen just to get her into a nice rhythm and keep it smooth on her. The pace wasn’t overly strong for the first couple of furlongs, so I was able to put her in that position without using up too much, so it worked out well.”
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes.
