Runner-up to Sea of Grace (Ire) (Born To Sea {Ire}) in an extended seven-furlong maiden at Tipperary July 9, Eziyra showed she was above average when decisively beating the subsequent G1 Moyglare Stud S. and G2 Debutante S. runner-up Hydrangea (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in a Galway maiden over this trip 17 days later. Second again to Sea of Grace in the G3 Flame of Tara S. over a mile at this venue Aug. 28, the chestnut proved too strong for her opponents to bring up a sixth success in the race sponsored by her trainer and named after his late parents Charlie and Marguerite. Always travelling smoothly off the pace towards the stand's side from her high draw, the homebred took control passing the quarter pole as the far-side leader Elizabeth Browning (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) started to wilt and gamely saw off Grecian Light to win with authority.
“It's tough going, but she got through it well enough and is uncomplicated,” jockey Pat Smullen commented. “I felt it was better on this side of the track than on the far side, where it's really heavy. She has a tendency to swish her tail under pressure, but had enough in reserve to win today. She was entitled to be favourite and we were very hopeful. Today, she was in better humour than the last day, so the hood worked.” Trainer Dermot Weld added, “It's a race I've sponsored for many years and it's a long time since I've won it, but you usually need a Classic filly for next year to win it and that was the idea of having it at this time. This is not her ideal ground, but she got through it better than I thought. She's just a very good filly and is totally genuine and consistent and hopefully she'll be around for the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas. When she develops over the winter, she'll be a lovely filly next year. She raced a bit keen last time and relaxes that bit more in the hood.”
Eziyra hails from her owner-breeder's staying family of the G1 Ascot Gold Cup winners Estimate (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}) and Enzeli (Ire) (Kahyasi {Ire}). Her useful dam is also a half to the G1 Irish Oaks and G1 Prix Royal-Oak heroine Ebadiyla (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) and the G1 Moyglare Stud S. winner Edabiya (Ire)
(Rainbow Quest). Ebaziya's full-sister Ezilla (Ire) had the triple listed-winning Ezima (Ire) from a mating with Sadler's Wells who in turn produced the G1 Epsom Oaks and King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. heroine Taghrooda (GB) to a mating with Galileo's half-brother Sea the Stars (Ire). Still to come from Eytarna is an as-yet unnamed yearling filly by Holy Roman Emperor (Ire).
Sunday, Curragh, Ireland
C L & M F WELD PARK S.-G3, €67,500, CUR, 9-25, 2yo, f, 7fT, 1:30.36, hy.
1–#@EZIYRA (IRE), 126, f, 2, by Teofilo (Ire)
1st Dam: Eytarna (Ire) (SP-Ire), by Dubai Destination
2nd Dam: Ebaziya (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
3rd Dam: Ezana (Ire), by Ela-Mana-Mou (Ire)
O-H H The Aga Khan; B-H H The Aga Khan's Studs SC (IRE); T-Dermot Weld; J-Pat Smullen. €39,825. Lifetime Record: 4-2-2-0, $75,834. *1/2 to Eshera (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}), SW-Ire. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Grecian Light (Ire), 126, f, 2, Shamardal–Akrivi (Ire), by Tobougg (Ire). (260,000gns Ylg '15 TATOCT). O-Godolphin; B-Stilvi Compania Financiera SA (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. €13,500.
3–Legitimus (Ire), 126, f, 2, Lawman (Fr)–Imeall Na Speire, by Galileo (Ire). O-Mrs J S Bolger; B/T-Jim Bolger (IRE). €6,750.
Margins: 2, 4 1/4, HF. Odds: 1.25, 5.00, 16.00.
Also Ran: Tinder (Ire), Perle de la Mer (Ire), Dawn of a New Era (Ire), Wild Irish Rose (Ire), Nutcracker Suite (Ire), Elizabeth Browning (Ire), Famous Milly (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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