Tastytee is ridden out by Wayne Lordan to beat Areana© Photo Healy Racing
Tastyee made the breakthrough on her 14th start, as she claimed the Visit Tipperary Handicap in the colours of owner Stephen Fallon.
Third at Gowran in April, she again took minor honours on her most recent start at Cork and she was sent off an easy-to-back 7/1 chance (from 7/2 early) this evening under Wayne Lordan.
Trained by Ken Budds, the Markaz bay raced in second and improved to dispute the lead from four furlongs out.
Soon sent to the front, she kept finding for pressure in the straight and came home a length-and-a-quarter to the good.
Top-weight Areana (25/1) ran on well to take second under Conor Maxwell for the hat-trick seeking Denis Hogan, with Cleopatra's Needle (15/2) was another half-a-length back in third.
With 17 runners in the line-up, Miss Upbeat (17/2) completed the places in fourth, while Sea Oscar (10/3f) finishing a disappointing fifth.
"She ran really well when she was left at the start on really heavy ground over seven furlongs at the Curragh last year, where she flew home, and she has just been a hard mare to figure out," Budds said.
"We kept stepping her up and up (in distance) and she kept hitting a flat spot. We chanced more stamina (1m4f, 100 yards) today and they went a right good gallop and she hit no flat spot.
"Wayne said she came on the bridle, was looking around turning in and toughed it out.
"Her recent hurdles run toughened her up as she had been horse-shy and grew up. She is only small but is very tough and should be fun."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
