Around the halfway point in the opener at Tramore, with the grey Riviera Queen on the outer© Photo Healy Racing
While sent off the warm order favourite, Riviera Queen was made to work hard for her win in the opening Morris DIY Irish EBF Fillies Maiden.
A runner-up on two of her four previous starts, the Jessica Harrington-trained grey was available at 5/4 in early shows for this mile-and-a-half contest, eventually going off the clear market leader at 4/7.
Racing in third on the outer in the colours of Dan Kiely, the daughter of Camelot took much closer order with half-a-mile to race.
Pushed along into a share of the lead with just under two furlongs to go, the market leader had to pull out all the stops in the closing stages to beat Settlement by a neck.
The first one off the bridle, the runner-up was returned a 5/1 chance under Leigh Roche for Dermot Weld.
"She didn't handle the track a bit. She is a big girl and battled it out well," Kennedy reflected.
"She has a lovely big stride and is a gorgeous moving filly. A nicer track will bring out the best side of her.
"She gets the mile-and-a-half real well, especially out there as it takes a bit of getting. We took them on early and made it into a real slog. She'd be able to step up in trip at a nicer track.
"That's my first ride at Tramore and thank God we're off to a good start.
"That's my 24th winner now and I have six more on my 7lb claim."
