Eziyra and Pat Smullen land the KPMG Enterprise Stakes© Photo Healy Racing
Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen teamed up to take the KPMG Enterprise Stakes for the fourth successive year as Eziyra proved a gutsy winner of the Group 3 at Leopardstown.
The Aga Khan's Teofilo filly needed to dig deep in the straight after Spanish Steps had stretched a couple of lengths clear well over a furlong out.
The 9/10 favourite led well inside the final furlong to beat Exemplar by three quarters of a length, with Glamorous Approach just a short-head back in third.
Eziyra wins the Group 3 KPMG Enterprise Stakes! @LeopardstownRC @IrishChampsWknd pic.twitter.com/fnwIuXomUu— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) September 9, 2017
Eziyra wins the Group 3 KPMG Enterprise Stakes! @LeopardstownRC @IrishChampsWknd pic.twitter.com/fnwIuXomUu
Weld said, “She’s tough genuine and game. She’s just a very good filly, and ran a very good race in the Irish Oaks. Enable beat her fair and square but I think she’s progressed and improved since then.
“She won the Group race in Cork nicely and you must remember she won over seven furlongs at Group level as a two-year-old as well. She’s a stayer with speed.
“Interestingly Pat felt she would handle faster ground, good to firm would not be a problem.
“I’d say she'll go for the Group 1 Fillies and Mares on Champions weekend. I won it a few years ago and this is a similar sort of filly. She’d be very capable of representing us very well.
“She’ll also be in the Prix De Royaillieu on Arc weekend but I’d say we’re more likely to go for the Group 1.”
Betfair make Eziyra a 16/1 chance for the Qipco Fillies & Mares, while Boylesports go just 10/1 (from 14/1).
