Tarawa streaks clear of her rivals under Chris Hayes© Photo Healy Racing
Less than a week on from their Epsom Oaks success, Dermot Weld and Chris Hayes combined for Listed honours with Tarawa in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Glencairn Stakes.
A winner on her second start as a juvenile, the Shamardal bay failed to get her head in front last season but ran some excellent races in defeat and was placed five times.
Third on her return to action in the Owenstown Stud Stakes at Naas last month, the Aga Khan-owned four-year-old was expected to deliver this evening and was sent to post the 2/1 favourite.
Upped in trip to a mile and one for the first time, the 104-rated victor moved to the front after three-furlongs, with Hayes clearly not content with the early pace.
Pushed along from early in the straight, the market leader soon skipped a few lengths clear and extended her advantage when ridden, coming home two-and-a-quarter lengths to the good.
On what was his debut for Alice Haynes, Cairo (13/2) ran on nicely to fill the runner-up spot under Kieran O'Neill, while Unreasonable (9/1) was another three-quarters of a length back in third.
"She deserved that. It was her first time to run over that trip and I thought she'd enjoy it," Weld divulged.
"She has a lot of Group black type and I wanted to win a Stakes race with her. Winning over that trip opens up a lot more opportunities going forward.
"I loved the way she quickened and put it away very quickly.
"I left it (riding plans) to Chris. I said sit handy and there wasn't a lot of pace on so he decided to go on and it was the right thing to do.
"We've held her up before and last time in Naas we both felt that we probably should have made a bit more use of her.
"I'd stick to at least a mile and one now and we could edge on to a mile and a quarter with her.
"The ground is a credit to Leopardstown - beautiful summer ground."
STEWARDS REPORTS
The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Formal Display (GB), trained by G.M.Lyons, at the request of the Raceday Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal.
S. Foley, rider of Quar Shamar (GER), trained by Mrs John Harrington, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount took a bad step at the road crossing and didn't move fluently thereafter.
D.P. McDonogh, rider of Unreasonable, trained by Joseph Patrick O'Brien, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount jumped left out of the gates.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
