Shell House and Joseph O'Brien (inside) just get the better of Sea Coast and Shane Foley© Photo Healy Racing
Aidan and Joseph O’Brien completed a double on the card at Naas as they took the last, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden, with the odds-on favourite Shell House (earlier won the second with Cougar Mountain .
This daughter of Galileo (second winner of the evening for the sire) ran a cracker on her debut at the Curragh last September when finishing second to stable mate Dazzling.
She then finished sixth on her next start at Leopardstown when sent off favourite, while she was beaten into fourth on her first start as a three-year-old at Navan earlier this month when again sent off favourite.
Her last effort came over a mile and two and dropped back to a mile this evening she was sent off at 9/10 having opened at evens on-course (was available at 11/8 this morning).
Having broke smartly she made all and while she was strongly pressed by Sea Coast inside the final furlong she battled gamely to see off that rival by a short head.
The aforementioned Sea Coast was returned a 5/2 chance under Shane Foley for Mick Halford, while the Dermot Weld trained newcomer Sarafiyla was a further two and a half lengths back in third.
Joseph O’Brien said afterwards: "She ran well the last day and the step down in trip probably wasn't ideal as I think she'll get a mile-and-a-half. It would be nice to get some black-type for her."
The winner cost €260,000 as a yearling at Arqana and she is a half-sister to What A Name, who won two Group Three contests in France, and the classy nine time winner Diabolical.
STEWARDS REPORTS
The Stewards fined Garrett James Power, trainer, €350 for lodging a passport in respect of Annadiamond in which the vaccinations did not conform with the provisions of Rule 91.
The Stewards allowed the horse to run on receipt of the trainer's written assurance that the vaccinations were in order.
The Stewards informed Albert Moriarty, trainer that Sea Adventure (withdrawn), would have to be recertified before being declared to run from stalls again.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
