Jack's the girl in Roscommon opener With three non-runners Jack Naylor went off the 6/5 favourite for the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Auction Maiden at Roscommon and the Champs Elysees filly duly completed her task in good style. Pat Smullen had Jessica Harrington's juvenile ideally positioned throughout as her only serious market rival Syntax raced too keenly for his own good. It wasn't surprising then when Jack Naylor had much more to offer in the final furlong and she went on to triumph by three and a half lengths. The big two left first-time outsider Manny Owens all of six lengths further back in third. Despite the fact that her previous fifth and second placings had been achieved on ground with much more ease, the Gerard Byrne-owned victor coped admirably with the faster conditions on this occasion. "Her form suggested that she was good enough to win and it looked a good opportunity off eight stone eight," remarked Smullen. C.D. Hayes, rider of Natural Woman, trained by Kevin Prendergast, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount met with accidental interference racing out of the back straight. (DM & EM)
