Avenue Gabriel (left) is driven out by Chris Hayes to beat Fastnet Mist© Photo Healy Racing
Avenue Gabriel got a deserved win to her name this season as she took the feature at Naas this afternoon, the Listed Clodovil EBF Garnet Stakes.
The Paul Deegan trained daughter of Champs Elysees finished a good fourth in the 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh in May and she finished seventh of eighth in the Pretty Polly again at the Curragh in June.
Dropped in class today she was sent off at 5/1 after opening at 6’s on-course.
Settled in mid-division she came with her challenge on the outer as they turned into the straight and was ridden to the front with under two furlongs to race.
She was strongly pressed inside the final furlong but she pulled out more close home, going on to score by three parts of a length under Chris Hayes. Fastnet Mist ran well to finish second at 12/1 under Billy Lee for David Wachman while Kanes Pass also ran a cracker, finishing another three parts of a length back in third at 33/1 under Leigh Roche for Willie McCreery.
I’m Yours proved easy to back on-course, going off the 3/1 favourite having opened at 2/1, and she finished a very disappointing twelfth under Pat Smullen for Dermot Weld.
Paul Deegan commented afterwards: "That's great. I'm delighted for James (Kelly) and Lady O'Reilly and their patience has been rewarded.
“Her best form was always on fast ground and we've always said she was better on it but it started to catch up with her.
“It took her a long time to get over the Pretty Polly as she came back not herself.
“That's a nice race to win before the winter and she'll go home for a holiday now. We won't be tempted to run on quick ground again.
“She'll be a good mare next year and could be a filly for something like the Matron. Her Guineas run was no fluke.
“We thought she might stretch out a bit more but probably a true run mile is what she wants.”
STEWARDS REPORT
The Turf Club Veterinary Officer examined I'm Yours (GB), trained by D.K. Weld, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
