Mauiewowie, right, battles past Treasure Trove© Photo Healy Racing
Mauiewowie and Treasure Trove swept through to fight out the spoils in the Listed Curragh Stakes for juveniles, with the former edging the decision.
They were both unleashed past Funny Money Honey approaching the final furlong and were locked together before Treasure Trove took a narrow lead with 150 yards left.
Mauiewowie and Colin Keane fought back and closed all the way to the line where she won a photograph by a short head. Favourite backers were rewarded at 7/4.
Runner-up Treasure Trove lost little in defeat at 9/2 as she was nicely clear of the remainder in this five-furlong dash.
Trainer Ger Lyons, who was winning this race for the third successive year, said: "She's a lovely filly and a filly we always liked.
“We have a load of backward two-year-olds at home and she's the one that has always been precocious.
“She's by Night Of Thunder, one of my favourite if not my favourite sire, and Kris Weld just told me that she's a grand-daughter of Nightime so she has the pedigree.
“I was very worried about today's ground and they've done a marvellous job.
“We'll see how she comes out of it but I wouldn't be surprised if you didn't see her again this year and we look after her until next year.
“We won't rush her and let her come along. She'll come into her own over six furlongs with a little bit of juice.”
When asked if he was disappointed with her defeat last time he added: “I'm never disappointed over here because you don't know what you are getting beat by. It was only her second run and we've no divine right to go out and win every time we turn up.
“She's was turning up against a rock solid English horse who knew her job. They won't beat me the next time though!
“We have loads of options now, the Blenheim over six furlongs, with a bit of juice but I'll let her tell me and let her grow up because she's a work in progress and she'll be a lovely horse for next year.
“Eleanora (Kennedy, owner) is the lucky charm. I thought passing the line that we were beat but she's a very lucky owner and I think that's her tenth or eleventh winner since she joined me — that doesn't happen.”
Mauiewowie is now two from three having won a fillies' maiden at Naas before taking the runner-up berth in the Listed Marwell Stakes, behind Lady Hollywood, at the same track last month.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
