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Punchestown 2024
Punchestown 2024
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- Lovely start from Hazmiyra
Lovely start from Hazmiyra
Hazmiyra (Pat Smullen) beats Cry Me A River (Wayne Lordan)
© Photo Healy Racing
The Aga Khan and Dermot Weld were responsible for the first and third home in the opening Irish Stallion Farms E.B.F. Fillies Maiden at Naas as Hazmiyra (11/4 into 9/4 favourite) made a most pleasing start under Pat Smullen.
Second favourite Cry Me A River had to angle out to get a run but there was no living with Hazmiyra, a chestnut daughter of Pivotal in the final furlong.
She crossed the line with a length and a quarter to spare over Cry Me A River, with Baliyka three and a half lengths back in third under Leigh Roche.
"She's a nice filly and I've always liked her. She's a little bit immature but did the job nicely," said Weld.
"She's a beautifully bred filly and we'll see if we can get a bit of black type along the way. She's not been to a racetrack before and was a bit green.
"I walked the track beforehand and it's beautiful ground. There was a little bit of rain, and she would always want an ease in the ground."
Anastasia O'Brien, rider of Californiadreaming trained by A.P.O'Brien, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that her mount ran flat.
The Turf Club Veterinary Officer examined Californiadreaming, trained by A.P.O'Brien, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal.
W.J. Lee, rider of Most Radiant trained by W. McCreery, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount ran short of room in the closing stages.
The Stewards interviewed D.P. McDonogh, rider of Accalia concerning his use of the whip in the latter stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned who stated that while he had used his whip down the shoulder in the forehand position, it had been due to exceptional circumstances in that his horse was edging outwards. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence the Stewards gave the rider the benefit of the doubt on this occasion and took no further action.
(AM & EM)