Unconsidered newcomer leads home 1-2 for Aga Khan in Naas finale

The Aga Khan recorded a 1-2 in the concluding Irish Stallion Farms EBF (Fillies) Maiden at Naas this evening but not as the market had predicted as his 20/1 newcomer Kerineya beat twice raced and 11/8 favourite Shelannga in a taking winning debut.

Ridden by Conor Hoban, the daughter of Elusive City moved past leader Shelannga inside the final furlong before scoring a two and a quarter lengths success.

Kerineya's trainer Michael Halford later commented “she's a nice filly, a typical Aga Khan filly and Niall McCullagh has been riding her work at home. She was ready to start and we thought we'd get her out and get her going.

“She hasn't been on grass or anything so it was a good performance and she's a lovely relaxed filly.

“It was ideal with a nice small field and you'd like the way she picked up there and she had a nice blow so you'd imagine there is plenty more to come from her.

“It was set up lovely, she got a lovely round around but unfortunately the saddle slipped on our other filly (Viviante) and there was only the two in front of her to aim at.

“It was like a bit of work really the way it worked out for her so it didn't call on her to do a whole lot, because of her greenness she didn't have much to do but to follow two.

“We'll go home and think about it. We'll see what the handicapper thinks of it but she could be a stakes filly.”

Quotes from Gary Carson