Sheyya is pushed out by Ben Coen with eventual third Unless on her inside© Photo Healy Racing
The Johnny Murtagh trained Sheyya ran out a good winner of the opener at Leopardstown this evening, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden.
The Starspangledbanner chestnut was sent off at 14/1 for this seven furlong contest, with the Aidan O'Brien trained Unless the 2/7 market leader.
Slightly slow into stride and settled in fourth, the Aga Khan owned victor took closer order on the outer entering the straight.
Pushed along to lead a furlong and a half from home, she kept up the gallop all the way to the line, coming home a length to the good under Ben Coen. Madly Truly (4/1) didn't get a clear run up the rail and she ran on well once switched to the outer, eventually finishing second.
Unless, who attempted to make all, had no excuses a head back in third.
"That's a surprise!" Murtagh revealed.
"Coming here I thought she was a nice kind of filly, she had been working with a couple of our two-year-olds and always showed plenty. She showed that she was ready to come here.
"She's by Starspangledbanner, she has a bit of pace but Ben was very impressed. He said she travelled really well and quickened up good.
"We knew coming it was a nice race, but she's nice and she should improve plenty from it.
"She's very, very straightforward and he said she loved the ground which was good to firm, so she's exciting.
"She's very professional - usually ours need a run, but this one is kind of straightforward and clued in.
"We'll speak to Pat Downes and the team and we'll see where we'll go next, there's no big rush. We think she will get better as the year goes on."
STEWARDS REPORTS
G. M. Ryan, rider of Amusement trained by Donnacha Aidan O'Brien, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount was slowly away.
D. McMonagle, rider of Madly Truly trained by Joseph Patrick O'Brien, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount was unlucky in running.
Additional reporting by Michael Graham
