Majestic Desert overcame a bad draw and a slow start to justify favouritism for Mick Channon in the €300,000 Tattersalls Breeders Stakes at the Curragh today.
Produced by Michael Kinane with a strong challenge up the centre of the track, the 5-4 chance had to be driven right out to defeat Willie Muir's Totally Yours (12-1) by a head as they forged clear of their 22 rivals in the six-furlong contest.
"That's as far as she wants to go, Mick says. She's a tough little thing," said former jockey Bruce Raymond, representing owner Jaber Abdullah. Channon has had plenty of success for the owner, notably with Zafeen in the St James's Palace Stakes this season.
It is possible Majestic Desert will return to the Curragh next weekend for the Moyglare Stud Stakes, according to Raymond, who recalled winning a similar valuable Goffs-sponsored sales race at the track 12 years ago on Fair Crack for Richard Hannon.
Best of the pack were the 20-1 chances Dollivius, for local trainer Tom McCourt, and Delphie Queen, trained by Pat Flynn, in a race in which Kinane reported the winner was in arrears early on.
He said: "She was a bit slow from the gate and I was a length and half down after a furlong. But they went fast and she picked up well - though it was getting a bit tight late on for us."