Ummalnar and Chris Hayes© Photo Healy Racing
Ummalnar was very impressive from the front when winning the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Cooley Fillies Stakes at Dundalk for William Haggas and Chris Hayes.
Bred by Rabbah Bloodstock Limited and owned by Mohammed Jaber, like her very classy staying half-brother, Sheikhzayedroad, Ummalnar seemed to relish forcing the pace. Surrounding bidding to win this for the third year in a row, and the winner's fellow English raider, Pretty In Grey chased home at distances of six lengths and one and a half lengths.
Haggas and Hayes won the Group Three Athasi Stakes at Naas at the start of the month with Camacho filly With Thanks.
“She was very impressive. She's gorgeous to look at, she's a fine big filly, and has a lovely big stride on her,” said Hayes.
“I'm very grateful to Mr Haggas for putting me on her. He told me to keep it simple, she's a big striding filly, to get her into a stride and then sit.
“That left me in front and she seemed to be coasting. At the top of the straight, I thought I had gone steady, so I said I'd stretch them along.
“I gave her two flicks, looked back and I couldn't believe it because it felt like a piece of work. She's obviously got plenty of talent.
“I talked to Tom Marquand as well and he filled me with a bit of confidence. It was nice.
“I don't know what the plans are but maybe they might think of something like the Cape Verdi in Dubai.”
At the request of the Stewards, W.J. Lee, rider of Pearls Galore (FR), trained by P. Twomey, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount ran flat and found very little off the bridle.
(GC & EM)
