Mataariki strong off the front in Gowran Park Mataariki made most to land the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap on Gowran's card. The 3/1 joint favourite soon led from the stalls and led a bunched field. Dylan Browne McMonagle kicked over a-quarter of a mile out and got busy a furlong and a-half down as stablemate Shavasi tried to challenge. That rival's bid petered out at the furlong pole as Mataariki stretched her lead. She was kept up to her work to win by a length and a-half from Marakesh (28/1). Bellaphina (10/1) kept on nicely for third a short head away. Joseph O’Brien said: “Seven is probably her trip and she enjoys a bit of juice in the ground. “This has been a good race to us. It is a good pot and these fillies handicaps, particularly through the early part of the season, are so competitive. “We’ll try and get a bit of black type with her at some stage.” Additional reporting by Alan Magee
