Khalessi (Barry O'Neill) beating Robyn Belle (left)© Photo Healy Racing
Khalessi opened her account at the fifth time of asking when benefiting from a fine ride by Barry O'Neill to land the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (Mares) Bumper at Clonmel.
The Milan mare showed some promise over hurdles at Punchestown earlier this month, and was backed from 12/1 into 8/1 on her return to a bumper.
Barry O'Neill elected to set the pace and kept his mount wide throughout, and she found plenty when asked for her effort in the straight. Robyn Belle and Carmelina both looked big threats as 5/4 favourite Katy P weakened from two furlongs out to eventually finish fifth.
However the Tom Nagle-trained mare held onto her advantage and had half a length to spare at the line.
Robyn Belle took the runner-up spot, with Carmelina another two and a quarter lengths adrift in third.
Nagle said, "The last day she ran in a bumper at Tramore they went no gallop and it turned into a sprint. I told Barry make sure it's not a sprint today.
"She is a well-bred filly, and is a full-sister to a couple of winners, Milan Bound and Acey, so it was important to get a bracket for her. She will go for a maiden hurdle now somewhere in a couple of weeks. She is owned by my wife Una."
The stewards enquired into two separate incidents near the end of the back straight in which Yes Pat slipped up and Aunt Berry s rider Katie Walsh was unseated. Silver Shot s rider Callaghan Shine was found to have ridden carelessly in the latter incident and was given a seven-day suspension.
Shine was given a further two-day ban for continually using his whip after his chance had clearly gone on the mare who eventually finished ninth.
(DM & AM)
