Foniska blitzes Navigation Stakes rivals Foniska made every yard of the running, as she impressively dismissed her 12 rivals in the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Navigation Stakes. Successful on her fourth start at Thurles last season, the Jessica Harrington-trained three-year-old was third behind stable companion Village Voice on her return to action in the Salsabil Stakes at Navan in April. She since finished a disappointing fifth when sent off favourite for the Blue Wind Stakes, before again failing to make an impact in the Sandringham at Royal Ascot. Given a break since, the 97-rated bay was available at 25/1 in early shows for this mile contest, before eventually going off a 12/1 chance in the colours of Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd. Out of Group 2 winner Bocca Baciata, the Shane Foley ridden victor increased her advantage from the two-furlong pole and soon had all her rivals in trouble, going on to score convincingly by three-lengths. The Joseph O'Brien-trained Snapraeterea (10/1) came through to take second under Declan McDonogh, while the admirable Clever And Cool (6/1) was another two-and-a-quarter lengths away in third. Sent off the well-backed 10/3 favourite (from 10s in early shows), Proud And Regal finished a disappointing ninth under Gavin Ryan for Donnacha O'Brien. "She has enjoyed making the running in the past. She had a good run in the Salsabil in Navan on deep ground and I think the key to her is ground," Foley revealed. "She went to Ascot when the ground was very firm and came back sore but Mrs Harrington and Kate have done a good job to get her back. "Her work has really come on in the last couple of weeks and we were quietly confident coming down today, with the ground the way it was. I liked the way she picked up between the three (furlong pole) and the two and even down to the one again. She kept quickening and gave me a feel." He added: "I think she is improving and I don't know if she's in the dispersal sale (Flaxman Stables' high-profile sale on November 24th) or not but if she stays in training, she will definitely compete in those better races next year on soft ground. "Jessie will be delighted as the Niarchos family (Flaxman Stables) are massive supporters of our yard and it is a good time to be having good winners with the sales on." STEWARDS REPORTS * D.P. McDonogh, rider of Snapraeterea, trained by Joseph Patrick O'Brien, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount was slowly away from the stalls. * G.M. Ryan, rider of Proud And Regal, trained by Donnacha Aidan O'Brien, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount was slowly away from the starting stalls. * The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Power Under Me, trained by G.M.Lyons, at the request of the Raceday Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal. * The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Proud And Regal, trained by Donnacha Aidan O'Brien, at the request of the Raceday Stewards and reported the animal to be coughing post race. Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
