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Keane completes double on Weld's Azallya

Azallya and Colin Keane  Azallya and Colin Keane
© Photo Healy Racing

The Newmarket Maiden was won by the 2/1 favourite Azallya who completed a double for Colin Keane.

Keane, earlier successful on Ten Ten Twenty sent the Aga Khan’s filly to the front over two furlongs out and she stayed on well to see off Cycladic by a length and a half.

The pair had the finish to themselves, with Earl of Tyrone (5/1) a further nine lengths back in third.

The daughter of Le Havre had been beaten fractions when third in a blanket finish at the Curragh in June and was getting off the mark on her fourth start.

Kris Weld, assistant to winning trainer Dermot Weld, said: "She is a grand, lovely big honest mare and has improved with each of her runs so far and improved again today.

"She is well bred, likes the ease in the ground and Colin was very pleased with her. Hopefully she can win again and we'll look for a handicap with her next."

Reflecting on Tarnawa’s winning seasonal reappearance in the Ballyroan Stakes at Leopardstown two days ago, he added:

"Tarnawa came out of the race really well and we are delighted with her. As long as His Highness is happy, she'll run in the Irish Champion Stakes next and Paris then.

"On ratings she was a standout (on Thursday) but it was lovely from our point of view to see her go out and do it. She was carrying more condition than you'd like going into battle, but her class came to the top and she won very nicely.

"Any of the crowd in front of the stand gave her a great round of applause and it was touching to see."

Quotes from Thomas Weekes

1st
2/1Fav
Tote €3.20 €1.40
2nd
1.5L
7/2
€1.40
3rd
9L
5/1
€2.00
About Mark Nunan
Mark has followed racing since he was a teenager and worked for many years as a broadcaster with the Irish version of Racecall. He joined the Press Association in 2019 and is also a contributor to the Racing Post. A native of Kildare, he now lives in Sligo.