The Michael Halford trained Tawariyka showed the benefit of two previous placed course runs to win the opening Dundalk Fillies Maiden at Dundalk today.

Ridden by Gary Carroll, the daughter of Forest Wildcat made all and stayed on well under pressure in the straight to deny Merkel which hung towards the winner once under pressure.

Halford, who was returning from Dubai, was represented by his wife Louise Halford who said “Tawariyka has always shown enough at home to say she would win a maiden - she was very genuine and game in the last furlong today.”