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Punchestown 2024
Punchestown 2024
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- Weld on the mark again with Eziyra
Gary Carson
Weld on the mark again with Eziyra
Eziyra
© Photo Healy Racing
Eziyra landed the odds to give Dermot Weld his second winner of the festival in the Colm Quinn BMW Fillies Maiden at Galway.
Pat Smullen tracked the leaders on the 2/5 shot before moving smoothly into the lead passing the two pole in the seven-furlong contest.
The Aga Khan-owned daughter of Teofilo kept on well when asked for an effort in the straight, despite flashing her tail.
She had two lengths to spare at the line as Hydrangea stayed on to fill the runner-up spot.
The winner had been a promising second on her debut at Tipperary a few weeks ago and added to a long list of previous winners for Rosewell House in the race, including the likes of Market Booster, Dance Design and most recently Tarfasha in 2013.
"Pat said she is a big, immature filly and still has a lot to learn. She broke a bit slow but has a lot of natural talent,” said Weld.
"She will handle very fast ground, and the ground today was as slow as she'd like. She is bred to stay well as there is plenty of stamina on her dam side.
"She will go for a Group race next, and I'd not be afraid of a mile."
Smullen added:- “She's a lovely filly that is improving away. Even there she showed a lot of immaturity — she was quite green in front.
“From an outside draw she did well to get a good position. I think there is a good bit more to come from her.
“My hand was forced a little bit to get up and get into a good position because you don't want to be out the back or four wide.
“After getting into that position you were always hostage to whatever was leading to stay there but they weakened and I thought 'well she's an Aga Khan-bred filly and she's going to get to the line' so I sent her along.
“In doing so she probably won the race but yet it showed a bit of immaturity and greenness over the last half furlong.”
(Additional reporting by Alan Magee)