The opening sprints at Naas generally haven't been kind to punters with a 40/1 winner of race two - Shiota popping up for Joe Murphy and Gary Carroll in the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Race.

\Amazing Athena (25/1) came near-side in the opener. She was improving significantly from an inauspicious debut.

Like her Shiota also ran behind the exciting Babouche at Cork on start one - the only difference between herself and Amazing Athena here being that the Murphy/Carroll scorer delivered her winning burst far-side.

Owned by Gerard Kervick and Crampscastle Bloodstock Ltd Shiota crossed the line a head and the same to the good from Elzem and No Return

Said Murphy: “We think she's a lovely filly going forward. She had an education in Mallow.

“I think she's more of a three-year-old, she's after stretching since Mallow and getting a bit light but she's growing like mad. I think seven furlongs will be ideal.

“I thought the race in Cork was the best two-year-old race I'd seen in a long time. The last winner was behind us and that gave me a good feeling coming in this.

“She's beautifully-bred, she's a half-sister to two group winners and is by a sire I like in Tamayuz.

“We'll see how she comes out of it but you have the Silver Flash and the Moyglare at the end of the season.

“The reason she ran here was to get a feeling for the Ballyhane Stakes, so we'll have two bites at the cherry.”

G.F. Carroll, rider of Shiota, trained by Joseph G. Murphy, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount hung badly right late on.

(GC & EM)