American Lady gained a deserved first success at Dundalk tonight as the Fozzy Stack trained, 85 rated filly landed the Bet On The Best Night Out Maiden under jockey Chris Hayes.

The daughter of Starspangledbanner contested the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot last June and having proven herself a dab hand at finishing fourth in black-type races, today benefited from the drop back to February maiden company as she added value to her pedigree page.

American Lady raced prominently throughout and in the end held off another unseasonably highly 91-rated Healy's Double when scoring a half length success.

Hayes later reported “she was entitled to do that. She hadn't a bad run last year but maybe on her very last run she was kind of off the boil.

“She was freshened up, Fozzy said she'd improve a lot and we were just worried about the draw.

“She gave a heave inside the furlong pole and showed a good attitude. For her to do it from that draw you'd have to be very happy with her.

“That's the main thing done now (winning her maiden). She sold well at Ascot (GBP200,000) and has a nice pedigree so we'll try and nick a bit of black-type.”

Quotes from Gary Carson