The Ger Lyons trained and Qatar Racing Limited owned Birdcage easily justified 4/11 favouritism to win the opening Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Auction Maiden at Dundalk today.

Ridden by Lyons' stable jockey Colin Keane, the daughter of Showcasing put her previous outing at Tipperary to good use today, breaking smartly and making all for an easy four and a half lengths win over slowly away newcomer Miss Phillyjinks

Afterwards Lyons stated "we can't ask her to do anymore than that.

"The reason we are getting runs into our horses early, is for days like that and her experience stood to her.

"We think she's a Stakes filly and have to decide whether she's good enough for the Queen Mary or if she'll go for the Listed race at Naas.

"Colin said she was very green and could have done it better. She was looking into the stands and will come on a lot from that.

"She wasn't really ready to go to Tipperary but the reason we ran her was because there were only four runners.

"Unfortunately the jockeys made a mess of the race. I don't know if she learned anything except for having a day out but it was the winning of this race."

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Gary Carson