Wild Dollar, right, storms home to tackle Citronnade, centre© Photo Healy Racing
Wild Dollar won the Betway Irish EBF Maiden in the Curragh in the stewards' room after the placings of the first two home were reversed. Citronnade took the field along and dictated throughout under Shane Foley. She was asked for more off the home bend and responded. Sherkin island got into a good rhythm to tackle the leader and, indeed, pass her with a furlong to go.
Citronnade came under a drive from Foley and regained the lead with 150 yards left, however, Wild Dollar stormed into contention on the outside and really served it up to Citronnade close home.
Citronnade held on by a short head but the head on angle confirmed that she had given the runner-up a bump in the final strides which led to Wild Dollar being promoted to first place.
Wild Dollar and Mark Gallagher scored at 20/1 for trainer Eddie Harty. Runner-up Citronnade went off at 6/1. Sherkin Island put in a promising debut in third, a further length and a quarter away, at 4/1.
Foley said of runner-up Citronnade: “She has experience, she’s fit and she handled the going. She’s a good, staying filly and the further she goes the better. She wants a mile and six.”
The Stewards enquired into possible interference close to the winning post involving Wild Dollar, ridden by M.A. Gallagher, placed second and Citronnade (GB), ridden by S. Foley, placed first, where it appeared contact was made. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. M.A. Gallagher in his evidence stated that he thought that his mount was about to go by Citronnade (GB) when he received contact which unbalanced his mount at a crucial stage of the race. S. Foley in his evidence stated that his mount had previously leaned to the right and was corrected when he changed his whip hand and then the filly shifted left towards Wild Dollar but in his opinion that animal had in turn leaned in on his own mount. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards were satisfied that Citronnade (GB) had improved her placing over Wild Dollar by causing him interference and consequently reversed the placings with the amended result to read; First - Wild Dollar, Second - Citronnade (GB). The Stewards took no further action.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
