La Hacienda and Declan McDonogh © Photo Healy Racing
La Hacienda completed an across the card double for trainer Matthew Smith when winning the Bulmers Secret Orchard Live At Leopardstown Handicap at Leopardstown.
Smith, who had been on the mark with hurdling debutant Arabian King in the first race down in Killarney, had to wait until the final contest at the Foxrock venue but no doubt it was worthwhile.
Off the track since being pulled up over hurdles at Kilbeggan in April, the daughter of Free Eagle clearly improved for the fitting of first-time cheekpieces.
Declan McDonagh produced her from off the pace early in the straight and she battled on well to get the better of longtime leader S'all Good Man The latter was filling the runner-up spot for the second time in a week having just lost out at Limerick last time.
“It was her first time with cheek pieces. We went slow and I had a lovely run around but we were going to sprint from the two and I needed to get going and get a bit closer,” said McDonogh.
“It was the right move to make at the time, she quickened and put the race to bed. She's a tough little thing.
“Matt's horses are coming into form at the right time for Galway, he always does well there.
“She won well, it was a bit of a false race and I thought she did well to win.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
