Hayden/Calnan enjoy 'family' success

Owner/breeder Anthony Calnan and trainer John Hayden will have taken pleasure in the win of Accalia in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at Down Royal today, as the pair had previously had success with the filly’s dam in 2008.

Accalia was today improved one placing on three runner-up efforts and having jumped a road-way crossing at Bellewstown when second at Bellewstown in August, made no mistake today in holding on for a neck win over Waitaki

Hayden later quipped “she was due a win but we'll have to learn her how to jump roads and stuff like that!”

He added “she wants to learn to be a little more settled and not burn herself out. She has a lot of toe and it's ideal up here for her.

“We might stick her in the Joe McGrath over five at the Curragh. That's a handicap where she could be covered up. I'd say that's as soft as she wants it.

“She's owned by a doctor (Anthony Calnan) from Clonakilty and I trained her mother (dual 2008 winner Valentine Hill) and it's also nice to win a maiden with this filly.”

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Gary Carson