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In-foal Behana sheds maiden tag in style

Behana stretches away under John O'Neill in the finale at GalwayBehana stretches away under John O'Neill in the finale at Galway
© Photo Healy Racing

Like Millie Le Bach earlier on the card, we had another in-foal winner on Galway's programme with Behana landing the concluding Jamie Kyne Memorial Mares Flat Race under John O'Neill.

With cheek-pieces on and her regular partner back in the plate after a near miss at Cork last time, it all came together beautifully for the Aga Khan-bred daughter of Halling on her ninth attempt in a bumper.

On a good night for favourite backers, the 7/2 joint market leader shot clear in the straight to triumph by five lengths over Troubled Soul

"It's about time she won as she has been knocking on the door for a while," declared winning owner and trainer Ronnie O'Neill. He is of course also the father of jockey, John.

He then revealed: "She's in-foal to Stowaway (who O'Neill stands) and if she has another run it will be her last. She has another month or five weeks to go.

"I'm not too worried now as I just wanted to get a win out of her. She is a beautifully bred filly. Her grand-dam was second in the Arc and she is a half-sister to Barizan (Grade 1 winning juvenile hurdler).

"She has a beautiful pedigree and she will be a big addition to the broodmare band. She might run in the winner's bumper at Listowel but we will see how she is.

"We will see how the ground is as she is very dependent on the ground. If it goes soft she won't run anywhere. We will see how she is in the morning. I promised Rachel (his daughter who was second on the mare at Cork) a win on her but now she is after winning today!" (DM & EM)