Raydara, right, impresses at the Curragh© Photo Healy Racing
Mick Halford’s Raydara showed electric pace to go from last to first and swoop to win the Group 2 Debutante Stakes at the Curragh.
She made her move under Shane Foley with a furlong and a half to race and the Aga Khan colours were spotted flashing home down the outside to collar Lucida well inside the final furlong. Ultimately she won cosily by half a length at 11/1.
Jim Bolger 's Lucida had impressively won a winners’ race on debut at Naas. This was a step up in class on her second start. She travelled well in mid-division and got a lovely run along the rail to head Qualify just over a furlong from home. She kept on well but was swamped by the fast-finishing winner. Lucida was backed down to 3/1 joint favourite from an opening show of 5s. Toogoodtobetrue was a length and three parts further back in third. She saw plenty of cash in the betting market as she was returned at 11/1 from 14/1 opening show and 20s in the morning.
Mick Halford said: “I'm thrilled with her. When she won her maiden she made the running after finding herself in front, but I thought we made a little bit too much use of her the last day. We're only learning about her. She got a break to freshen her up after that. We took her away to the Curragh the other day and she worked very well.
“Shane said she went up through the gears pretty good and he was delighted. She's a very smart filly. Today was a big test and she came through it well.
“I'll talk to Pat (Downes) now and he'll discuss plans with his Highness. The Moyglare is the obvious target, but she does love it fast and she might have had enough for this year. She's had her four runs and this is the time of the season that fillies can start to go off.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
