Rayeni to the fore at the Curragh

Racing: Rayeni showed reservoirs of stamina to claim listed honours in the Go Racing In Kildare Festival Waterford Testimonial…

Racing:Rayeni showed reservoirs of stamina to claim listed honours in the Go Racing In Kildare Festival Waterford Testimonial Stakes at the Curragh this afternoon.

The John Oxx-trained chestnut gained a discernible lead at the one-furlong pole, but was hauled back by Luisant on the dash to the line.

Although that rival was fleetingly nudged into a slender advantage by Willie Supple, Mick Kinane was in an uncompromising mood.

The 5-4 favourite, owned by the Aga Khan, galloped strongly when pressed by Luisant to bag first place by a neck.

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Genki, trained by Roger Charlton, was third.

Oxx said: "Bringing him back to six furlongs was bringing him to his minimum distance, but he stuck his head out and finished well. He will go for the Knockaire Stakes at Leopardstown on November 1st - the seven furlongs will suit him better."

Aidan O'Brien's Lady Lupus (9-2) dug deep for Johnny Murtagh to deny Atasari an all-the-way win in the Lanwades And Staffordstown Studs Stakes.

Settled in second in the early exchanges, Lady Lupus looked a beaten filly at the two-furlong pole, but the Jim Bolger-trained long-time leader started to tread water.

Murtagh was all out to get his mount into the lead, but she responded well inside the distance to secure Listed honours by three-quarters of a length.

Akdarena stuck on from the rear to take third.