Sienna Lady and Ronan Whelan (left) win from Dedillon (centre)© Photo Healy Racing
The Michael Halford-trained Sienna Lady came with a strong surge inside the final furlong to open her account at the 12th attempt in the fillies maiden at Dundalk.
Ronan Whelan was trapped wide from his draw in 13 and the Lope De Vega filly came on the outer down the straight.
She tackled Dedillon inside the final furlong and edged ahead in the closing stages to record a three-parts-of-a-length verdict.
The 2/1 favourite was not winning out of turn having been runner-up on three previous occasions.
Halford said:- “Ronan took a break. It was always the plan that he would take January off as it’s a tough year with wasting and all that.
“He was just helping his Dad and taking a break to come back fresh. It’s his first night back and nice to get a winner.
“I’m delighted to win with that filly and I didn’t think it would take me until now to win with her. Her owner/breeder Michael Enright is a great supporter of ours and it was important to get that bracket for the filly.
“We’ll give her a break now and bring her back for the turf. I think now that she has got her head in front it will help her.
“We put her up in trip before because we thought she wanted it and then we put cheek pieces on her and she was a bit keen. She got us out of trouble tonight despite the wide draw and Ronan gave her a fine ride.
“She came home strong and did well to overcome it.”
(Quotes by Alan Magee)
