Glassatura, left, shows plenty of dash at the Curragh© Photo Healy Racing
Bye Bye Birdie was nailed on the line by newcomer Glassatura (33/1) in the six furlong juvenile fillies maiden that got 2,000 Guineas day under way at the Curragh.
Glassatura was switched out to the centre of the track and sprouted wings in the final furlong under Shane Foley to wear down the 1/2 favourite who led throughout on the rail.
Joseph O’Brien on Bye Bye Birdie jumped out smartly from stall 12 and grabbed the stands-side rail in taking the field along.
A furlong and a half out he asked for more and it looked like the daughter of Oasis Dream would improve on her runner-up finish first-time out at Naas.
However, despite hitting 1/50 in-running, she couldn’t hold off Glassatura who was trapped behind horses before being switched out to deliver her challenge.
“She’s a very smart filly. She showed her class when she got out. She appreciated the six furlongs and she’ll improve a lot,” Shane Foley commented.
Trainer Michael Halford said: “She has shown us plenty form the start at home. We do like her and she could go on to better things. She got the trip well. She might go up in trip not back.
“We’ll step her up into a Listed race at Naas [3rd June]. We wanted to get a nice introduction into her and she did well to win from where she was.
“Shane said she was keen going to the start so he dropped her in and she was probably further back than he wanted to be.
“She accelerated well when she got into the clear. I expect her to come on from the run.”
Glassatura won by a neck from Bye Bye Birdie with Tap Dancing (13/2) a further three parts of a length away in third for David Wachman and Wayne Lordan.
The winner paid almost 67/1 on the Tote. Patty Paige was withdrawn not under orders, after becoming restless in the stalls.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
