Sport

Well-related Kissed makes impressive start at Navan

RACING: THE WELL-RELATED Kissed made a most impressive start to her racing career in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden…

Thu Oct 06 2011 - 01:00

RACING:THE WELL-RELATED Kissed made a most impressive start to her racing career in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden at Navan yesterday.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained juvenile is a three-parts sister to this year’s brilliant Epsom Derby winner Pour Moi and was making her racecourse debut over a mile.

Ridden by the trainer’s son, Joseph, the 6 to 4 favourite just had to be pushed out at the finish to beat Violet Lashes by a comfortable length and a half.

“I was a always happy with where I was in the race and she is a very nice filly,” said the winning jockey. “It’s very testing conditions out there and there should be plenty of improvement in her from here.”

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Stan James were suitably impressed, making the daughter of Galileo a 16 to 1 chance for next year’s Oaks.

Galway Hurdle disappointment Hidden Universe got back on track in the October Maiden. Dermot Weld’s classy novice hurdler (9 to 4 favourite) returned to the Flat for the first time since last October and didn’t let down his supporters.

Chaperoned and Louisville Lip were both arguably travelling better two furlongs out but the winner responded well to Pat Smullen’s strong driving, going on to beat the former by two and three-quarter lengths.

Balmont Mast justified 7 to 2 favouritism in the opening Kells Maiden. Colm O’Donoghue tracked long-time leader The Munster Maori on Edward Lynam’s gelding before sending him to the front inside the final furlong. He won by a comfortable length and three quarters from the running-on Judies Child.

Lynam doubled up when Quote Of The Day made light work of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden under Chris Hayes. The 9 to 1 chance took it up turning in and slammed Casual Creeper by seven lengths.

Samantha Bell also left it late when guiding Amour Fou home in front in the Derrinstown Stud Apprentice Handicap. However, the gap came at the perfect time for Bill Farrell’s filly, who burst to the front under a confident Bell and beat Wellmarked by half a length at odds of 12 to 1.

Charles O’Brien’s Tupelo Honey (6 to 1) took the Meath Handicap under Johnny Murtagh, while Murtagh notched his second winner of the afternoon on John Oxx’s Tugboat (2 to 1 favourite) in the concluding Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.

“I think that’s the first winner we’ve had for the owner (Thomas Barr, owner of Champion Hurdle runner-up Osana) – we’ve hit the crossbar a few times in the past for him,” said Oxx’s assistant Slim O’Neill.

Murtagh now moves three winners (71-68) clear of Pat Smullen at the head of the jockeys’ championship.