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Donal Murphy
Charter looks smart as Lyons wins with first juvenile
Peace Charter (nearest) gets up to beat So Wonderful
© Photo Healy Racing
The well-bred Peace Charter got up close home to take the opener at Naas, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden.
Trained by Ger Lyons, his first juvenile to run this season, the daughter of War Front is out of Emollient who won four times at the highest level in the US.
Having opened on-course at 11/2, the Khalid Abdullah owned bay came in for plenty of market support, and went off the 7/2 second favourite.
Settled behind the leaders by Colin Keane, she was pushed along a furlong and a half from home, and was ridden in pursuit of the leader, Just Wonderful (evensfav), as they raced inside the final 200 yards.
She really powered home from there, nabbing the aforementioned market leader in the final strides, prevailing by half a length at the line.
The Jack Davison trained Glow Worm (50/1) ran a fine race to take third, another three and three parts of a length away under Oisin Orr.
"That was nice. It's all about two-year-old's for me and she's our first throw of the dice," said Lyons.
"I don't have to do much with these horses when they come to me. They are all very straight forward. My job is just to cuddle them, make sure that they're eating and sleeping and learning how to gallop.
"That's her first time on grass and you'd like to think there is plenty of improvement in her given the way we do our business.
"Colin said she rode very green. There were rumours about the second and if they are to be believed it means we have a smart horse.
"I'm delighted with her and you'd like to think there is plenty of improvement. The obvious race would be to come back here for the fillies listed contest.
"I'd say she'll learn plenty from that, and will need to. Going forward we always thought she was a seven-furlong plus filly.
"It's nice to see our first throw of the dice with two-year-old's winning. The rest of them will be a long time coming out as we have very few to go early.
"Colin said it didn't even feel like he was going to get there early doors, he was in trouble and she wasn't letting herself down, but that was pure greenness.
"As I said we don't bring them away. I love them to run and if they win we'll handle it but I love them to improve for the benefit of the run.
"It was my first War Front. He seems to be the order of the day at the minute and I'm delighted to have one."
Additional reporting by Gary Carson