Bonaparte justifies favouritism in Naas opener

Rue Bonaparte justified favouritism in the opener at Naas, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden, scoring under Chris Hayes for Kevin Prendergast and Lady O'Reilly.

The bay daughter of Dark Angel finished a good second on her debut over the course last month, finding Madame Thunder just a length too good.

Stepped up to six furlongs today she went right out of the stalls and impeded Californiadreaming in the process.

On settling down she raced in third until improving to lead two furlongs out. She was ridden from over a furlong out and kept on well under pressure to score by half a length at the odds of 6/4.

Californiadreaming, who was backed from 3/1 to 2/1 on-course, had to settle for second under Ana O'Brien for her father Aidan while Verbosity ran well to take third, a further three parts of a length back.

Kevin Prendergast said afterwards: "I'd say that wasn't a bad race. We'll bring her back here for the Swordlestown (Listed Coolmore Stud Fillies Sprint, June 1st) and try and get a bit of black-type. Although that race could be a different kettle of fish.

"She didn't go back and came forward. I'd say that's the sort of ground she likes and I don't think she'd go on brick hard.

"Most of the Dark Angels don't and she's from a soft ground family. The grand-dam Rebelline couldn't run unless it was soft."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson