Darrouzett maintained her unbeaten record with some style when taking the featured Denny Cordell Lavarack Memorial Fillies Race at Gowran Park yesterday.
The daughter of Darshaan justified a tall home reputation when making a successful debut in maiden company at the Curragh earlier this month, but the John Oxx-trained filly had to play second fiddle in the market here to Token Gesture, the uneasy 11 to 10 favourite.
Velour, a stablemate of the winner and also carrying the colours of Sheikh Mohammed, set the pace until headed by Darrouzett over two furlongs out. John Murtagh, partnering winner number 67 of the year and now 15 behind Christy Roche in the championship, sent her into a clear lead at the distance and was able to ease down in the closing stages to beat the favourite by a length and a half.
"She would prefer a bit more cut in the ground, and could be pretty useful. She has a nice turn of foot, and may run next in the Listed Diamond Stakes over 10 furlongs at the Curragh on October 4th," said Oxx.
The Token Gesture team of Dermot Weld and Michael Kinane went one better in the opening EBF Fillies Maiden with Queen Of Silk. The Brief Truce juvenile swooped on the outer to lead 100 yards out for a length win from Mazurka, with the Charles O'Brien-trained newcomer Geisha Girl staying on nicely a further length and a half adrift in third. Weld said: "She has a nice attitude and is one to look forward to in the future. I will now find a Listed race for her."
Challenger Two will bid for a quick follow-up at the Curragh tomorrow after turning the Waterford EBF Nursery into a procession. Jamie Spencer, on the 15 winner mark for the year, could afford to take a long look over his shoulder as the son of Petorius coasted home for a four-length success from Joleah.
Paddy Mullins and Tommy Treacy combined for a 19 to 1 double with Choice Jenny and Aboriginal.
Choice Jenny led before the last for a cosy two and a half lengths win from Jacky Flynn in the three-mile Gowran Handicap Hurdle, while Aboriginal gained an equally easy success in the Bagenalstown Maiden Hurdle.
The Be My Native gelding held an unassailable lead when making a bad mistake at the last, and Treacy eased him right down in the closing stages to beat Minister's Cross by two lengths.
Charlie Swan is just one short of completing a career milestone of 1,000 winners after Montelisa gained a narrow win in the Milford Handicap Hurdle. The eight-times champion gave the Aidan O'Brien-trained mare a power-packed drive to touch off Blackwater Cisco by a head.
