Avakate a first winner under rules for Emily Costello

Emily Costello enjoyed her first success, on only her fourth ride on the racecourse, when steering Avakate to an impressive win in the concluding Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares(Ladies Pro/Am)INH Flat Race at Roscommon.

The Andrew Slattery trained five-year-old was backed at big prices when a promising fifth on her debut at Punchestown last month.

That experience was clearly not wasted on the daughter of Affinisea, as she looked a potentially smart sort here, travelling easily before quickening up nicely to go and win her race once asked to do so.

Costello, whose father Dermot was champion point-to-point rider in 1989 and 1996, showed maturity beyond her years, delivering her mount with a well judged ride on the outside of the field, before kicking for home over a furlong out.

Willie Slattery (Andy’s brother and assistant trainer)said, “Emily rides out for us when she’s off from college.

“She ran too free the first day. We thought we rode her wrong, it wasn’t the rider’s fault it was the instructions, so we changed the tactics and Emily gave her a lovely ride.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee.