Emily justifies favouritism in the opener

Emily Square got off the mark on the second time of asking as she took the opener at Killarney, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Median Auction Maiden.

The Ken Condon trained daughter of Bushranger finished fifth on her debut at Galway behind the impressive Now Or Never.

Available at 9/1 last night (before the defection of likely favourite Crème De La) she opened on-course at just 15/8 before going off the 7/4 favourite.

Having tracked the leaders in the early stages she was pushed into second from two furlongs out.

She came to challenge the front-running Hot To The Touch a furlong out, getting to the front inside the final 150 yards before keeping on well to score by a length.

Hot To The Touch finished second under Billy Lee for Willie McCreery at 7/2 while the well-supported Golden Malt (3/1 to 9/4 on-course) was a disappointing last.

Ken Condon said afterwards: "She's a big, tall, scopey filly, and Shane said the ground was as quick as she'd like. There should be plenty of improvement in her.

"She was slowly away at Galway and extremely green but I liked the way she came home. She's come forward well from that run.

"Maybe we could look at the nursery in Listowel, and I think the best of her will be next year."

STEWARDS REPORT

P. Twomey, trainer of Golden Malt (GB), reported to the Clerk of Scales that his charge was struck into in running.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee