Godolphin-bred Cleopatra's Needle (12/1) gained an overdue first win at her 18th attempt today, landing Navan's Book Your Navan Summer BBQ Packages Handicap (Div I) for trainer Harry Rogers and jockey Chris Hayes.

Out of a sister to Sheikh Mohammed's star Dubai Millennium, Cleopatra's Needle was a 16,000gns cast-off purchase in 2021 and today ended a frustrating spell when winning readily from another maiden, Mayo For Sam

Rogers reported “she always promised plenty and had a few good runs but had health problems and it took a long time to sort them out. We actually sent her to the sales but we weren't getting enough for her (unsold at €5,000) and the boys said they'd hold on to her.

“She worked very well last week but she always did work well and is a well-bred mare.

“We thought last year she'd come out and win after finishing third at Tipperary, but things went wrong and it didn't work out - that's horses for you!”

He added “she loves top of the ground and she's going jumping as she has schooled over hurdles. Robbie Power had her for a while, schooling her, and said she had plenty of scope.

“She's in a mares maiden hurdle at Tipperary on Thursday but we'll see how she comes out of this.”

Quotes from Gary Carson