Light impresses in Curragh opener

The Michael O'Callaghan trained Angelic Light ran out an easy winner of the opener at the Curragh, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden.

Eighth to Hillwalker over seven furlongs on debut at Gowran in June, the daughter of Dark Angel was dropped back to six furlongs today, and was sent off a 16/1 chance (33s this morning and from 25s on-course).

Toward the head of affairs throughout under Leigh Roche (first winner back since injury), the grey victor was pushed along over a furlong from home, and soon powered clear, going on to score impressively by five and a half lengths. Mary Salome (40s in early shows, and from 7s out to 10s on-course) finished second under Colm O'Donoghue for Madeleine Tylicki, while Joe Murphy's newcomer Peruvian Lily (25/1) was a head back in third. Afar was sent off the 7/4 favourite (5s in early shows), but she could only manage a disappointing fifth under Donnacha O'Brien for his father Aidan.

O'Callaghan said afterwards: "I ran her over seven in Gowran the first day and it taught her a lot. She was a little bit slow to learn at home, and it's been a while since we've ran as the ground was firm that day and we just took our time.

"She's done a bit of growing since and strengthened up. The bit of experience has stood to her well.

"We bought her at the breeze up sale in Goresbridge (for E56,000) and we've always really liked her at home.

"I thought in her first few bits of work that she was a Stakes filly, and then she started to grow. In the last few weeks she's come back to herself.

"Leigh has given her a lovely ride and kept it simple. We have the option of going back up to seven, and if we could find a conditions race next that would be lovely."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee