Acanella wins Snow Fairy at 16/1 for Lyons & Keane

Acanella sprang a 16/1 surprise when winning the Group 3 Snow Fairy Fillies Stakes in the hands of Colin Keane.

Having chased the leaders, the daughter of Dansil quickened up well to lead a furlong out and saw out her race well to hold last year’s Matron Stakes winner Champers Elysees by three quarters of a length, with the same margin back to Oodnadatta in third.

A debut winner at Leopardstown in April, Acanella had been unplaced in three previous tries in stakes company.

Shane Lyons, assistant to winning trainer Ger Lyons, said: “We’re delighted and she’s done what we were hoping for all year. She’s a big filly that is only filling into her frame and will be even better next year.

“She did everything right for the first time today. She broke well, she travelled well for Colin and, while she’s not ground dependent, she loved that ground.

“She’ll get a bit further if she has to and next year is going to be fun for her.”

Quotes from Alan Magee