Bear Cheek and Andrea Atzeni race clear© Photo Healy Racing
Trainer Ger Lyons landed the opening Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Maiden at Naas today for the second year running with a Qatar Racing Limited owned newcomer, as Bear Cheek (9/10f) impressively made most of the running under Andrea Atzeni.
The daughter of Kodiac was purchased, for E125,000, by current connections following a fast 'breeze' at the May Goresbridge Sales and confirmed that promise today, staying on strongly for a three lengths win over Know
Afterwards Lyons, who won the corresponding race last year with subsequent Group winner Ainippe, stated "we've decided to go the same route as Ainippe with her and as winners' races are few and far between, the Group 3 Curragh Stakes (August 22nd) is the next obvious race.
"We'll keep to the same route as Ainippe and won't over-faze her this year although I'm not saying she'll go to England like Ainippe.
"She's not over-big but shows plenty of speed and is very professional - she's a little bullet."
By Tom Weekes, quotes from Gary Carson
