Etawa takes Dundalk finale in style Etawa powered clear inside the final furlong to post a comprehensive success in the finale at Dundalk this evening. The Dermot Weld-trained filly was fitted with first time cheek-pieces, having wore a visor and blinkers previously, and went to post an easy-to-back 8/1 shot. Chris Hayes, in the late Aga Khan’s colours, produced the Kingman filly to lead entering the straight and soon asked her to stretch. She drifted a bit left when Hayes got serious passing the furlong pole but soon asserted to record a five-and-a-half length win over Head To Head. Hayes said: "Hindsight is a wonderful thing. If you look at the size of her, she is probably a big, weak frame of a filly. However many starts she has had, I got off her the last day and said that we were riding her wrong and to make the running with her or make plenty of use as she has a big action. "The boss disagreed this morning and said he wanted a lead, but he agreed to give her room so that's why I stayed three wide on her. "I committed her good and early because I wanted her to start extending rather than trying to sprint. That's probably been the difference. As I said, she was probably just a shell, weak-framed filly. "Absolutely none (no bother going back to turf) and the headgear was probably us more than her. "She's a filly for next year, but unfortunately she is going to the sales. She definitely has (put herself in the shop window). It is a month away. I'll be a greedy jockey and want her to go again, but we will let the intelligent people make the decision!" (Quotes by Michael Graham)
