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Mrs Gallagher sprints to victory at Naas

Josephine Gordon, Jockey.
Image: Jockey Josephine Gordon

Josephine Gordon was thrilled to ride her first winner in Ireland after British challenger Mrs Gallagher claimed top honours in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Polonia Stakes at Naas.

The William Jarvis-trained filly made a successful start to the campaign when landing a Listed prize at Bath last month and the form has been well advertised since with the runner-up, Mabs Cross, winning the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday.

Mrs Gallagher was a 7-1 shot for this five-and-a-half-furlong Listed contest and powered home for a decisive one-and-a-quarter-length success over Golden Spell.

Last year's Albany Stakes heroine Different League, making her second start since joining Aidan O'Brien, was a shade disappointing in fourth place.

Gordon said: "That's my first winner in Ireland and it's a good one to get.

"She's a rapid filly - she's probably one of the quickest fillies I've ever sat on."

Mrs Gallagher looks set for a sharp rise in class in the King's Stand at Royal Ascot.

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Jarvis said: "I've been training a long time, but I think this is my first winner in Ireland.

"She's very quick. I was keen to keep her against her own sex and her own age group for as long as we could and that's why we came over here.

"She'll have to step up now and we have an entry in the King's Stand, so we'll probably roll the dice.

"That's the first time I've been really impressed with her. She showed blistering early speed again."

The O'Brien-trained pair of Fairyland and Van Beethoven are pencilled in for Royal Ascot after claiming the first two races of the afternoon in the hands of Ryan Moore.

Fairyland was a 7-2 chance for her racecourse debut in the Coolmore No Nay Never Irish EBF Fillies Maiden and there was a lot to like about the way she quickened clear late on.

Van Beethoven was the 1-2 favourite for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race after finishing third on his introduction three weeks ago and made every yard of the running on his way to a comprehensive success.

O'Brien said: "I was delighted with the filly (Fairyland). She is a an Ascot-type filly, but just needs experience.

"He (Van Beethoven) is still very green, but I'm delighted and he won well in the end.

"He will have learnt a bit there and we'll try and get another run into him before Royal Ascot. He's a fast horse."

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