Independent Missy goes close on debut for Irish National Stud students

The Irish National Stud Students Class of 2019 had the thrill of a lifetime at the Curragh on Friday, with Dandy Man filly and 66-1 shot Independent Missy only collared in the final strides of the 6f .

Ridden by Ross Coakley, Independent Missy was allowed to run in the students' colours on debut after they had impressed trainer Tracey Collins with their enthusiasm and knowledge on a recent yard visit, and she appears to be an exciting two-year-old to follow for the rest of the season.

Collins trains the three-year-old filly from her Conyngham Lodge Stables on the Curragh, and posted an image on social media of the filly back in her paddock less than an hour after she had raced.

The Collins family originally bred from the filly's second dam Second Guess, an Ela-Mana-Mou mare who is the granddam of Coronation Cup hero and sire Pether's Moon through her Gladness Stakes-winning daughter Softly Tread.

Independent Missy is out of Second Guess's two-time winning Captain Rio daughter Springfort, who has produced three winners to date headed by Dundalk course specialist Chiclet.

The race was won by the Aga Khan homebred Sonaiyla, a Mick Halford-trained daughter of Dark Angel who was making her sixth start, having finished a creditable sixth in a premier handicap at Naas last month.

Sonaiyla hails from the further family of Derby and Arc hero Sinndar, while her dam, the More Than Ready mare Sinaniya, also won a Curragh maiden, in her case on debut.

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