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Mark Nunan

Mark Nunan

Heffernan doubles up on Greenfinch

Wed 1st Nov 2023, 16:31

Seamus Heffernan (left) with Ryan Moore  Seamus Heffernan (left) with Ryan Moore
© Photo Healy Racing

Seamie Heffernan completed a double, and partnered his fifth winner in three days, when Greenfinch took the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden. 

The daughter of Justify, runner-up at the Curragh on her previous outing, was available at 4/1 this morning before being sent off joint-favourite at 5/2.

Having tracked the leaders, she was brought towards the stands' side early in the straight and led over a furlong out. Strongly pressed and slightly bumped inside the final furlong by the newcomer Cameo Performance the half-sister to U S Navy Flag and Roly Poly found enough to see off that rival by a neck.

Heffernan's first winner had been Brains in the opening claimer. 

The winner is trained by Aidan O'Brien for the Coolmore partners.

Stable representative Chris Armstrong said: "She's a gorgeous filly and she has the pedigree to gowith it.

"She had the two runs before on soft ground which wasn't her ideal surface, but the experience stood to her.

"She was still a little bit green throughout the run, but Seamus (Heffernan) felt her class got her through in the end.

"She is a filly to look forward to next year, he thinks she will definitely develop up into a Group filly at somewhere between a mile and a mile and a-quarter.

"She will develop physically and mentally over the winter. She's one to look forward to.

"It is good to get the win next to her and the three runs will be a massive plus to her next year.

"The Justifys are extremely exciting - they have all got a great mind, a great action and they are 100 per cent genuine. They have big, long strides and, once they get their ground and trip, they really come into a different league.

"Luckily, we have got a few nice ones and it is an exciting bunch of two-year-olds to look forward to for next year."

Quotes from Michael Graham

1st
5/2JFav
Tote €3.50 €1.30
2nd
nk
13/2
€2.50
3rd
4.75L
16/1
€4.20
4th
0.5L
12/1
bf
0.5L
5/2JFav
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.