Nawafeth and Chris Hayes with groom Tara McCann and a full moon glowing behind them© Photo Healy Racing
Kevin Prendergast's Nawafeth touched off Stately Home on the line to win division one of the Crowne Plaza Hotel Dundalk Maiden.
Unfortunately newcomer Dreamzaam went wrong and was pulled up and dismounted in the straight here as favourite and eventual third placer Ballinlough Gale battled it out at the head of affairs.
The greys proved too strong for the market-leader in the end, with a nose and a length and a quarter separating them.
“She's a grand filly. She missed the break a fraction but I was happy enough as I was following Ronan and he was just behind Colin, they were the two main dangers,” said Hayes.
“She travelled well into the straight but she's a big girl and I just didn't want to put her on her head and go from travelling to off the bridle.
“I would have taken the blame if the nod went the other way. I thought I hit the line well and with the size of her I thought I'm definitely not going to get beat a short-head anyway.”
“She's in the mares sales and I don't know if we'll get another race into her.”
N.M. Crosse, rider of Dreamzaam trained by P.F.McEnery, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount pulled up injured.
S. Foley, rider of Freepark trained by Mrs John Harrington, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount was slowly away from the stalls.
(GC & EM)
