By Sean Cronin
Eleanora Kennedy's 2-year-old filly Mauiewowie (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}–La Chapelle {Ire}, by Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) made it two wins from three starts, and a career high, when annexing Saturday's Listed Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club Curragh S. over five furlongs. In a strong renewal, the 7-4 favourite prevailed by a short head from familiar rival Treasure Trove (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}), with Listed Prix La Fleche runner-up Funny Money Honey (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) a further 2 1/2 lengths adrift in third.
Saturday, Curragh, Ireland
QATAR RACING & EQUESTRIAN CLUB CURRAGH S.-Listed, €37,500, Curragh, 8-13, 2yo, 5fT, 1:00.48, gd.
1–MAUIEWOWIE (GB), 126, f, 2, by Night Of Thunder (Ire)
1st Dam: La Chapelle (Ire), by Holy Roman Emperor (Ire)
2nd Dam: Nightime (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
3rd Dam: Caumshinaun (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. (52,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA; 155,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Eleanora Kennedy; B-Trebles Holford Farm Thoroughbreds (GB); T-Ger Lyons; J-Colin Keane. €22,500. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $42,254.
2–Treasure Trove (Ire), 126, f, 2, Siyouni (Fr)–Pichola Dance (Ire), by Distorted Humor. O/B-Merry Fox Stud Ltd (IRE); T-Paddy Twomey. €7,500.
3–Funny Money Honey (Ire), 126, f, 2, Bungle Inthejungle (GB)–Jackie Sparrow (Ire), by Dandy Man (Ire). (€11,500 Ylg '21 GOAUTY). O-Mrs Theresa Marnane; B-Mark Burns (IRE); T-Jessica Harrington. €3,750.
Margins: SHD, 2HF, 2 1/4. Odds: 1.75, 4.50, 6.00.
Also Ran: Wave Machine (Fr), Harry Time (Ire), Badb (Ire), Kodi Red (Ire).
Mauiewowie, successful going five furlongs at Naas in her July 2 unveiling, ran second back over the same trip in that track's July 20 Listed Marwell S. last time and made the leap forward with a career high in this straight dash. Positioned behind the pace in a handy third after an alert getaway, she loomed large on the bridle when joining the front rank with a quarter mile remaining and was driven out inside the final furlong to outbob Marwell third Treasure Trove on the line in a thrilling conclusion.
“She's a lovely filly and a filly we always liked,” said trainer Ger Lyons. “We have a load of backward 2-year-olds at home and she's the one that has always been precocious. She's by Night Of Thunder, one of my favourites if not my favourite sire, and Kris Weld just told me that she's a granddaughter of Nightime, so she has the pedigree. I was very worried about today's ground, but they've done a marvellous job. We'll see how she comes out of it, we won't rush her and we'll let her come along. She'll come into her own over six furlongs with a little bit of juice [in the ground]. We have loads of options now, including the [Listed] Blenheim over six furlongs [at Fairyhouse], but I'll let her grow up because she's a work-in-progress. She'll be a lovely horse for next year. [Owner] Eleanora [Kennedy] is the lucky charm, she's a very lucky owner and I think that's her 10th or 11th winner since she joined me. That just doesn't happen.”
Mauiewowie, who becomes the 32nd stakes winner for her sire (by Dubawi {Ire}), is the seventh of eight foals and one of four scorers out of a half-sister to multiple elite-level winner Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and GI Man O' War S. heroine Zhukova (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). The March-foaled chestnut's dam La Chapelle (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), herself a daughter of G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Nightime (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), has also thrown the dual stakes-placed Something Enticing (Ire) (Fascinating Rock {Ire}) and a yearling filly by Expert Eye (GB). Nightime is the leading performer for Listed Platinum S. victrix Caumshinaun (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}), with the latter being the second dam of GII American Jockey Club Cup and G2 Meguro Kinen victor King Of Koji (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) and G3 Prix Cleopatre victrix Harajuku (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}).
Lyons strikes again!
Ger Lyons lands the @curraghrace Listed Qatar Racing And Equestrian Club Curragh Stakes for a remarkable sixth time in the last nine years with Mauiewowie, who got up right on the line under @ctkjockey. pic.twitter.com/pqt6SorOHt
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 13, 2022
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