Wannabe Better and Wayne Lordan head for home in Naas© Photo Healy Racing
Wannabe Better #8217;s power-packed challenge down the outside was rewarded with glory in the Listed Garnet Stakes in Naas.
Dermot Weld’s Rasmeyaa was all the rage with punters from 3/1 in morning trading down to 7/4 favourite on the off. That three-year-old filly travelled best with two furlongs to race, but once Pat Smullen got her to the front her run petered out as she came in fifth.
Meanwhile, Tommy Stack’s Wannabe Better (10/1) was winding up her finish under Wayne Lordan and had too much for her rivals as she kept on best for a two and a half length verdict.
Assistant trainer Fozzy Stack said: “She’s fairly useful on her day. She was in season when I was saddling her, but it doesn’t seem to make much difference to her.
“She ran well in Tipperary from a bad draw. She was too keen in the Matron, but probably wasn’t good enough anyway.
“I don’t know whether she’ll stay in training or not. She’s after winning two Listed races and her half sister is a Group 1 winner [Wannabe Grand in Cheveley Park in 1998].”
Regarding the nine races it took her to shed her maiden tag, Fozzy Stack said: “She always showed ability and was getting a bit frustrating. She got a lot of confidence the day she won her maiden here.” Mizzava was beaten two and a half lengths into second at 7/1, a nose in front of the gambled-on Uleavemebreathless (7/1 from 14/1 this morning).
Wannabe Better’s previous success at Listed level came in Killarney in August in the Vincent O’Brien Ruby Stakes.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
