St Faz (right) pips Evening's Empire© Photo Healy Racing
Placed in a couple of maidens in the spring, St Faz (17/2) put a disappointing handicap debut at Fairyhouse behind him when landing the Proparamedics Handicap under Shane Foley.
Trained by Edward O'Grady for Aidan Ryan, the gelded son of the Kitten's Joy stallion Taareef was fitted with a tongue-tie for the first time.
He was patiently ridden before making steady headway down the outer in the straight. After joining issue with Evening's Empire a furlong out, he stayed on well to just shade the verdict by a short head from that rival with Notturno another half a length back in third.
Foley said: "He's a horse that probably wants to go that trip, but he is a little bit hard on himself. He was a bit keen beforehand.
"I was further back than ideal, but I wanted to get him to relax. He did that and he ground it out well.
"He would go on softer ground as well and it was a nice fighting performance."
Quotes from Michael Graham
