By Sean Cronin
Karl Burke trainee Miss Lamai (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}–Tough Spirit {Ire}, by Iffraaj {GB}) bounced back off a close-up fourth in last month's G2 Queen Mary Stakes to secure a career high in Wednesday's Arqana Irish EBF Marwell Stakes at Naas.
The 10-11 favourite, a debut winner at Thirsk in April and runner-up in May's Listed Marygate Stakes at York, raced off the pace towards the rear through the initial fractions of this five-furlong dash. Powering forward on the bridle once past halfway, she came under pressure to launch her challenge approaching the final furlong and was driven out in the closing stages to defeat Make Haste (GB) (Blue Point {Ire}) by 1 3/4 lengths. The long-time leader Shamrock Breeze (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}) was a head adrift in third with the fast-finishing Merrily (No Nay Never) a nose further back in fourth.
“She's a good, tough filly and I thought that, if she ran up to either of her last two runs, she would be hard to beat, although you never know with two-year-old fillies,” said Burke. “We walked the track and when I watch Naas on TV, they are always coming stands' side and it walked that way as well. I said to Cliff [Lee] if they all go the other way to make sure he was on this side to make his challenge and, if they split, to definitely come this way. I think that helped. She got caught in the last 50 yards in the Marygate and at Royal Ascot they were spread across the track and she never got cover. That's the first time I've really seen her finish off her race. I've always thought she'd be a better filly with a bit of cover and that's worked out today. She's in the [G2] Lowther and we'll discuss that. This is huge for [owner] Chris [Hirst], who lives in Thailand, as he's building up a broodmare band.”
Miss Lamai is the third of five foals and one of three scorers produced by a winning half-sister to Grand Prix de Vichy victrix One For Bobby (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). The March-foaled bay's second dam, multiple Group-placed Listed Owenstown Stud Stakes winner One Spirit (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), is out of a half-sister to dual Group 1-winning sire Diktat (GB) (Warning {GB}). Miss Lamai is a half-sister to the stakes-placed Spirit Of Camelot (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), a yearling colt by Australia (GB) and a weanling filly by Blackbeard (Ire).
Listed success! 🏆
Another winner in Ireland for @karl_burke as Miss Lamai flashes home under @CliffordleexLee to land the Listed Arqana @IrishEBF_ Marwell Stakes @NaasRacecourse 🥇 pic.twitter.com/pN4Fi4nYAC
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 24, 2024
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