Racing:Banimpire provided Jim Bolger with a second consecutive victory in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Blue Wind Stakes at Naas. Successful with Akdarena 12 months ago, Bolger again has plenty to look forward to with this reliable filly, who was securing a third win on the bounce.
The 5-2 chance was always close enough to the pace initiated by Luxurious and Cilium, and made sizeable gains as the field straightened for home in the Group Three over a mile and a quarter. Kevin Manning went for broke two furlongs out and his mount responded in style, stretching clear of Spin by three-quarters of a length.
Mesariya, the John Oxx-trained 6-4 favourite, failed to show the acceleration which provided her with a significant maiden triumph at Leopardstown in March.
Bolger said: “She’ll probably now go for the Irish Guineas and after that it will be the Irish Oaks. She’s pretty versatile regarding trip so I don’t think that’s an issue. She won’t be going to Epsom for their Oaks.”
Earlier on the card, Maybe (8-1) looked the real deal when streaking clear in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden. Aidan O’Brien’s previously unraced daughter of Galileo had far too much panache
for Princess Sinead, with four and a half lengths separating the protagonists at the line.
Jockey Colm O’Donoghue reported: “Maybe is a smart filly, but I would have preferred a lead as she’d have learned a little bit more.”
O’Brien’s team soon returned to the winner’s enclosure when Choir struck on his racecourse debut in the Fishery Lane Race. The 13-8 favourite, a son of Danehill Dancer, was considerably eased down for a neck verdict.
Jockey Seamie Heffernan said: “Choir was a bit green, but was a real steering job.”