Siege Of Troy and Ben Coen. © Photo Healy Racing
The Johnny Murtagh trained Siege Of Troy stepped up on two promising efforts to open her account at the third attempt in the O'Dooles Restaurant Irish EBF Maiden at the Curragh.
An eye catching runner-up on her initial outing at Naas in May, the daughter of Siyouni stayed on late when a beaten favourite at Gowran Park last time.
Upped in trip here, with cheekpieces applied for the first time, Ben Coen kept it simple on the well supported 6/4f.
Breaking in front, Coen took a pull, claiming the box seat in third as Hampshire and Trapalanda went stride for stride up front.
As the latter gave way early in the straight, Paul Fahey's Trapalanda took over at the head of affairs. However, Coen moved through to sit second over a furlong out, with it looking just a matter of time before he edged ahead.
To her credit, Trapalanda found plenty for pressure when Siege Of Troy led inside the final furlong, rallying on the rail before eventually having to give best.
Johnny Murtagh said: “I was very disappointed walking out of Gowran the last time, we think a lot of this one.
“She's a good filly, big engine and a well-bred filly. I said to Ben last time to dolly around and give her a nice kick in the belly at the bottom of the straight but she was under pressure from a long way out.
“She was in between horses and Ben said maybe she didn't learn as much first time out as we thought she did and maybe I'd been minding her a bit since then.
“I put the cheekpieces on her today just to help her travel. She's a nice filly and she will keep improving, I think.
“She's big and she's raw, Ben says she should get a mile-and-a-half no problem. I'm a bit happier today.
“When she went to the front he said she pricked her ears. He was travelling really well and he didn't want to kick on two down but he said when he asked her to go she quickened up and stole a bit in front.
“He said when he pulled the stick through and asked her to go she won well at the line.”
Paddy Power went 33/1 Siege Of Troy for the Nassau Stakes and 66/1 Yorkshire Oaks.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson.
