Eye-catching win for Tocco D'Amore at Naas

The Listed Finale Stakes over 1m4f at Naas on Sunday brought the curtain down on this year's Irish Flat Turf season, with Moyglare Stud Farm's Tocco D'Amore running out a convincing three-length winner.

The three-year-old was also a convincing debut winner of a 1m2f maiden at the same course in April, winning by six lengths, but this was her first appearance since.

Trained by Dermot Weld and ridden by Pat Smullen, the Raven's Pass filly showed a clean pair of heels to her Willie Mullins-trained rival Lagostovegas, winner of two Graded handicap hurdles in the autumn.

Listed Finale Stakes result

Bred by Kilcarn Stud, Tocco D'Amore topped the Goffs Orby Sale in 2015, when knocked down to Moyglare Stud for €2 million.

The seven-figure sum is due in large part to her pedigree, as her page is laden with black type. She is a half-sister to Group 2 winner and sire Echo Of Light, Coronation Stakes third Irish History and Ribblesdale Stakes runner-up Flame Of Gibraltar.

They are out of the Blandford Stakes runner-up Spirit Of Tara, a Sadler's Wells sister to Salsabil - another to be bred by Kilcarn Stud - and four other stakes winners including Marju, whose daughters have produced the likes of Marsha and Ribchester.

They in turn are out of the top-class racemare Flame Of Tara, winner of both the Coronation Stakes and the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh in 1983.

Spirit Of Tara has produced 14 foals to date, nine of whom are winners, and also has a two-year-old Declaration Of War colt, named Texas Ranger, and a yearling Invincible Spirit colt.

The win capped a memorable weekend for Kildangan Stud resident Raven's Pass, who also supplied Tower Of London, winner of the Grade 2 Keio Hai Nisai Stakes over 7f at Tokyo on Saturday.

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