Dowdall savours success on Khezaana

Khezaana and Linzi Dowdall took the honours at 66/1 in the Tesoro Vita Ladies Trophy Handicap in the Curragh.

This three-year-old filly was making her second start for trainer Donal Kinsella after moving from Mark Johnston for whom she won an extended nine furlong handicap at Beverley in her seven-race career in Britain.

Khezaana travelled sweetly in seventh on the outer as the field turned into the straight. She followed the favourite Moon Daisy through and the pair took over from Out On Friday racing into the final furlong.

Khezaana outgunned Moon Daisy in the final 200 yards as she hit the front and went on. The 5/2 favourite kept on but was beaten two and a half lengths at the line. Extensio (10/3 from an opening show of 5/1 and from 12s in the morning) finished third in front of 22/1 shot Out On Friday.

Dowdall said: “It’s unbelievable — my first ride in the Curragh. I haven’t ridden a winner in about ten years

“She had a lovely run in Galway for us but we still didn’t know a whole pile about her coming here.

“I worked hard to do the weight for this and wouldn’t have done it for any other horse. I’ve worked for Donal for the last five years and he’s a great man to work for. I’m delighted to ride a winner for him.

“I rode Shu Lewis for my aunt Monica and she was a very good horse to me. I’m from Louth and I’ve done pony club, showjumping and love my hunting.

“I’ve ridden winners in America as well when I was based in Pennsylvania.”

Kinsella added: “We got her in the sales last July, a Shadwell horse out of Mark Johnston’s. She’s been giving us the confidence that she’s been getting better every week.

“This is a race we set aside as really Linzi trains her. She did brilliantly and really she didn’t have to ask her. She just shook the reins at her a furlong out and she went on."

The Stewards interviewed Miss L. Costello, rider of 14th-placed Igraine concerning her use of the whip in the latter stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned. In her evidence Miss L. Costello stated that she was trying to attain her best possible placing but accepted that she was out of contention for prize money. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence the Stewards were of the opinion that Miss L. Costello was in breach of R10(3)(b) by using her whip when her chance of winning or being placed was clearly gone. Having taken her previous record into consideration, the Stewards suspended Miss L. Costello for one raceday.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee