With Thanks and Chris Hayes© Photo Healy Racing
In terms of Irish Flat racing, running the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Athasi Stakes (Group 3) in November is a fair indication of what’s been a most unusual season.
Normally a trial for fillies with Guineas aspirations, this year’s renewal went to a real ‘back end’ of the season improver in the shape of 2/1 (from 10/3 in the morning) favourite With Thanks
Another winning Goresbridge Breeze-Up graduate (bought for 100K at last year’s sale), the Camacho filly had won two of her previous four starts and been runner-up in a Listed event at Goodwood last month.
Her supporters on this occasion would have had very few anxious moments as, racing wide, she was handy throughout before readily asserting under two furlongs out.
Just needing hands and heels encouragement from Chris Hayes, William Haggas’ filly came home five lengths clear of Silk Forest (9/2) with Soul Search (7/1) another half a length away in third place.
Hayes, completing a double after winning the opener on Storm Legend said: “She had the form to do it and impressed me in the manner she quickened up.
“It means a lot to be able to go on that ground and Mr. Haggas was confident. When I rang to tell him it had gone heavy he said all the better.
“It was important to get Group 3 status for a filly like her and I think she could step up in grade next spring.”
Newmarket-based trainer Haggas added over the phone: "She won easily. Chris gave her a lovely ride and she loves the ground.
"I don't know if she stays in training, we were going to make that decision after today - it will be up to Sheikh Rashid. We'll decide in the next week or so but she won't run again this year as that is job done.
"It wasn't probably a strong race and she is a fresh filly, too, so it wasn't rocket science that she won.
"It's (travelling) just not an easy thing to do at the moment as you are out of control and I'm very grateful to Richard Brabazon who took her over yesterday morning and took her to Naas for us.
"She was a breeze-up horse but she's light-framed, doesn't need a lot of racing and needs conditions in her favour. She's done well as she got beat at Thirsk but went to Catterick and won which built her confidence up and she ran a good race last time (at Goodwood)."
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
