Island Hopping and Wayne Lordan © Photo Healy Racing
The Aidan O'Brien trained Island Hopping came with a strong late run under Wayne Lordan to beat favourite Continuite in the opening Irish EBF Stallion Farms Fillies Maiden at Gowran Park.
Fifth on her racecourse debut at Newmarket last month, the Wootton Bassett filly came forward from that run to strike at the second attempt despite still showing signs of inexperience.
Tracking the pace throughout, Lordan was pushing along in fourth place entering the straight but began to get a positive response as soon as he drew the whip over two furlongs out.
Colin Keane looked to have stolen the race from the front on the Ger Lyons trained favourite inside the final furlong but Island Hopping produced a smart burst of speed to lead close home to win by a head.
Lordan said of an incident early on when his mount jumped:- “It's actually a darker shade of grass that's there and she copped it and didn't know whether to jam on or go left!
“She's a bit of a work in progress. She's always a little bit like that, she's just behind the bridle taking everything in.
“Nothing went smooth today and I thought I hit the line very well. She's a filly that's going to improve plenty and I think going further next year she's going to be fine.
“She's having a look at everything. She's a fine big filly to look at and you can imagine what she does this year will be a stepping stone to next year.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson.
