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Tasalka breaks her maiden for Weld and Hayes

Tasalka and Chris Hayes win the Naas Fillies' Maiden from Tashi (centre) and ProseTasalka and Chris Hayes win the Naas Fillies' Maiden from Tashi (centre) and Prose
© Photo Healy Racing

Dermot Weld had two Aga Khan-owned runners in the 1m 2f fillies’ maiden, and it was Tasalka (4/1) that won readily in the hands of Chris Hayes.

Stable companion Shamiyna was sent off 15/8 favourite but could make little impression in fifth. Hayes tracked the leaders before committing his filly at the two pole.

She readily drew clear of Tashi beating that one by a length and a half.

A daughter of Lope De Vega, the winner had been runner-up twice as a 2-y-o and seemed to appreciate the ease in the ground after some rain fell during the course of the meeting.

Winning trainer Dermot Weld said: "She had the rating to win, had been working nicely and loved the little ease in the ground.

“We'll see if we can get a bit of black-type with her, that's the target. I'm very pleased.

“I'd say that was a good maiden. With fillies at this time of year you are trying to start off and get winning brackets with them first and then see if you can progress.

“She ran some very good races last year and that's why she is a highly rated filly. I'd be very hopeful of getting black-type with her.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson

1st
4/1
Tote €4.60 €1.30
2nd
1.5L
28/1
€3.40
3rd
2.5L
5/2
€1.20
4th
1.5L
18/1
bf
0.75L
15/8Fav
About Mark Nunan
Mark has followed racing since he was a teenager and worked for many years as a broadcaster with the Irish version of Racecall. He joined the Press Association in 2019 and is also a contributor to the Racing Post. A native of Kildare, he now lives in Sligo.