Hawaii proves Leopardstown Queen for O'Brien The Joseph O'Brien trained Queen Of Hawaii stepped up on a promising debut effort to run out a comfortable winner of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden at Leopardstown. A staying on sixth on her introduction at the Curragh last month, the daughter of Kingman was sent off 10/3 to improve on that effort here. Chasing leader Minerva from the off, Dylan Browne McMonagle moved up to throw down a challenge to the latter entering the home straight. The two fought it out until over a furlong out, where Queen Of Hawaii began to assert, before eventually going on to score by two-and-a-half lengths. Trainer Joseph O'Brien was completing an across the card double having been successful at Killarney with Nitty Gritty. Joseph O’Brien said: “She had a lovely run the first day in a strong maiden and we thought she would enjoy going a mile. “I have her in here next week but it’s probably unlikely that she will come back here for the Silver Flash. We could go for the Debutante or stay at a mile. “There probably aren’t that many options at a mile for two-year-old fillies at the moment so she might have to come to seven for her next run. “I’m delighted to have a good filly for Philip Antonacci and his family and it’s nice to win a (50,000 euro) Goffs bonus as well. They are a great incentive for people to buy horses in Ireland and train them here.” Additional reporting by Alan Magee.
