Fairy Oak holds on for Leopardstown maiden success

Fairy Oak confirmed the promise of her fine effort at Royal Ascot with a narrow victory in the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden at Leopardstown.

Second on her Navan debut in early June, Michael O’Callaghan’s filly then finished fifth behind the exciting Venetian Sun in the Albany Stakes less than a fortnight ago later.

On the strength of that three-length defeat the daughter of A’Ali was a 10-11 favourite to make it third time lucky under Colin Keane and while odds-on backers were made to sweat by the strong-finishing Yellowstone Lake, Fairy Oak clung on by a neck.

“She was entitled to win her maiden and Colin said she sharpened up plenty from Ascot. He thought after Ascot she wanted seven furlongs, but said six was fine today,” said O’Callaghan.

“He thought the ground slowed her down a little bit and she’d be better on proper fast ground like it was in Ascot. She was probably in front long enough and she felt the last 100 yards.

“She’ll step back up into stakes company and showed at Ascot that she’s capable of operating at that level. She’s in the Lowther and the Moyglare and she’s a real two-year-old.”

Time Bender caused a 33-1 upset in the Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden.

A bargain basement yearling purchase at €2,500, the Gustav Klimt colt pulled a length and three-quarters clear of the chasing pack to make a winning debut for trainer William Durkan and jockey Chris Hayes.

Assistant trainer Gary Bannon said: “He always worked reasonably well and has got stronger since May. We were planning to run him in a barrier trial that got cancelled, so we’d no option but to come here.

“He’s for sale. We have the mare at home and it’s a nice family.”

Queen Of Hawaii is set to step up in grade after winning the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden by two and a half lengths.

The Joseph O’Brien-trained filly was sixth in a Curragh maiden on debut but stepped up in style as a 100-30 chance in the hands of Dylan Browne McMonagle.

O’Brien said: “She had a lovely run the first day in a strong maiden and we thought she would enjoy going a mile.

“I have her in here next week but it’s probably unlikely that she will come back here for the Silver Flash. We could go for the Debutante or stay at a mile.

“There probably aren’t that many options at a mile for two-year-old fillies at the moment, so she might have to come to seven for her next run.

“I’m delighted to have a good filly for Philip Antonacci and his family and it’s nice to win a Goffs bonus as well. They are a great incentive for people to buy horses in Ireland and train them here.”