Seolan and Chris Hayes winning the Listed fillies' race at the Curragh© Photo Healy Racing
Despite stepping up markedly in class Seolan (13/2) maintained her unbeaten record when gamely winning the Listed Staffordstown Stud Stakes for juvenile fillies over a mile at the Curragh.
Patrick Prendergast’s charge had won a Listowel maiden over seven furlongs for Paul Deegan before changing hands and moving stables and she looks to be a good purchase for Richard Barnes after landing blacktype on only her second outing.
Prendergast was quick to praise his fellow trainer when he said: “A lot of the credit for this has to go to Paul Deegan. I really liked her when she won at Listowel.
“I had a big strong colt that ran down there and he really struggled to get through the ground.
“She worked very well last week and I would have cried if they had called it off.
“I hadn’t looked beyond today as we just wanted to get blacktype with her.”
Chris Hayes was on board again and he forged his path home down the middle of the track and fought off Rehn’s Nest (10/1 from 25/1 in the morning) who tracked him, but was a length in arrears at the line.
"She won very impressively on her first start. I got a call from Patrick Prendergast and I recommended her," Chris Hayes added.
"She won snugly at the end and she'll get further next year."
Third place went to Dermot Weld’s Rawaaq at 5/2. She was beaten three and a quarter lengths by the winner.
The money came for Hanky Panky for the O’Briens, but she could find nothing extra in the final furlong to finish fourth. She was backed in from 5/2 to 15/8 favourite.
(On course reporting by Alan Magee)
