By Tom Frary
An entry in the G1 Irish Oaks and G1 Pretty Polly S., His Highness The Aga Khan's Eldama (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) produced a winning performance that marked her out as a touch special in Leopardstown's opening Fillies Maiden for debutantes on Sunday. Always travelling notably strongly under Oisin Orr behind the leading duo, the 2-1 favourite struck the front with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining and readily asserted for a 1 3/4-length defeat of Bearberry (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), with Amiko Chow (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) a half length back in third. The first winner of the season for Dermot Weld, the homebred is from the family of the G1 Ascot Gold Cup winners Enzeli (Ire) (Kahyasi {Ire}) and Estimate (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}) and the past Irish Oaks heroine Ebadiyla (Ire) (Sadler's Wells).
Assistant trainer Kris Weld said, “She's a nice filly. Our horses are a little bit behind because they are looking at the grass and saying that's for eating and not necessarily for galloping on! The Curragh has been in drought since the last week of March, so training them hasn't been the easiest. She's done well from two to three physically and we'll try to get her black type. That was a mile today and I'd imagine a mile and a quarter wouldn't be a problem as her half-sister Edelmira won the Give Thanks over a mile and a half in Cork. She's done that nicely today and you would have to be very pleased with her.”
The aforementioned G3 Give Thanks S. winner Edelmira (Ire) (Peintre Celebre) is one of two black-type performers out of the dam Elbasana (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) alongside the Listed Derby du Languedoc third Elishpour (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}). The triple listed-winning and dual group-placed second dam Ebaziya (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}) is a real influence for stamina, with Enzeli, Estimate and Ebadiyla all excelling when a test of stamina was required. Interestingly, Ebadiyla who added the G1 Prix Royal-Oak to her Irish Oaks success was covered by Green Desert and produced Eyshal (Ire) who was sharp enough to be third in the G1 National S.
Ebadiyla's daughter Ebalista (Ire) (Selkirk) was responsible for the G2 Prix de Royallieu scorer Ebiyza (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}) who in turn produced the Jockey Club Oaks Invitational winner Edisa (Kitten's Joy) and the G3 Prix de Royaumont winner Ebaiyra (Distorted Humor). Ebaziya's fourth group 1 winner was Edabiya (Ire) (Rainbow Quest), who defied her stout pedigree to annexe the Moyglare Stud S., while one of her other two black-type performers Eytarna (Ire) (Dubai Destination) produced the multiple group winner Eziyra (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) whose career highlight came in the G2 Blandford S. Also connected to the G1 Epsom Oaks and G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. heroine Taghrooda (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), Elbasana's 2-year-old filly is the unraced El Hamra (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}).
1st-Leopardstown, €12,000, Mdn, 6-14, 3yo, f, 8fT, 1:44.08, gd.
ELDAMA (IRE), f, 3, by Siyouni (Fr)
1st Dam: Elbasana (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire)
2nd Dam: Ebaziya (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
3rd Dam: Ezana (Ire), by Ela-Mana-Mou (Ire)
Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $8,106. O-H H The Aga Khan; B-H H The Aga Khan's Studs SC (IRE); T-Dermot Weld. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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