Pipsy takes the opener under Colin Keane © Photo Healy Racing
Pipsy (11/4) built upon a debut runner-up berth in Cork to deliver on second start in the Curragh.
Colin Keane had her to the fore after a furlong of this six-furlong assignment and the pair soon raced a close second to Emperor Of Rome and Killian Hennessy. Emperor Of Rome came off the bridle first approaching the final quarter of a mile and Pipsy soon passed him.
The Kodiac filly asserted inside the final furlong and powered home by three and a-half lengths at 11/4. Il Pellegrino came through for second at 10/1 and was two and a-quarter lengths ahead of Emperor Of Rome (12/1). Battle Fleet the 2/1 favourite and stablemate of Emperor Of Rome, finished out of the places in fourth.
Trainer Ger Lyons said: “It was lovely and it was no more than you'd expect after seeing King Cuan, the first day in Cork and definitely the last day in Naas. He impressed me both times.
“This filly has always been a filly we like and definitely a maiden winner. I said if she handles the ground she wins and, if she doesn't, we'll go to Dundalk, no problems.
“Colin was adamant she'd handle the ground and that she'll handle Dundalk so we'll go for the stakes race up there, the (Group 3) Mercury Stakes, and then we'll put her away.
“It was her first day away at Cork, Paddy (Twomey's) are always tuned to the minute and there was no third. I said 'we've walked into one'.
“I felt a bit sorry for her then as she did everything right on her own that day.
“I said we'd see the truth of the race in Naas and I don't think you could be any more impressed with the winner as he was beat, found a gear and took off again. I thought then 'he's alright and we definitely walked into one'.
“We knew we had natural improvement and she'd win a good maiden, but I was just worried about the ground.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
