Excitement at Jessica Harrington's yard as stable staff-owned filly makes debut

Jessica Harrington's team are well accustomed to sending out talented two-year-olds, but there will surely be extra tension within the Moone base on Wednesday before the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden (5.55) with the yard's staff at the centre of affairs.

Debutante Malaysian will be carrying the hopes of Harrington's workforce, some of whom have invested as part-owners in the Pride Of Dubai filly thanks to a forward-thinking initiative from the stable to reward its workers.

The brainchild of Harrington's son-in-law and assistant trainer Richie Galway, stable staff were offered the chance to buy into two yearlings last year, one of which was Malaysian, with no training fees or further expenses involved after the initial investment.

Richie Galway: 'We buy yearlings every year and offered the staff the chance to buy into two of them'

The ultimate aim is to sell the now two-year-olds after they advertise their talents on the track, hopefully providing a welcome reward for the stable staff.

"It's a great initiative if she's a good filly – if she's not there could be a revolution," joked Galway. "The staff work very hard and we'd love to give them a bit of fun. Everyone has been supportive of the idea and we hope they can be rewarded."

He added: "If the filly was to run well at Gowran there may not be anyone turning up to work the following morning! Everyone is highly excited and their two are certainly getting an extra scoop of feed every evening."

Harrington has already seen seven of her 27 individual juvenile runners hit the target this season and Malaysian, the mount of Tom Madden, will be aiming to add her name to that list.

Galway said of the initiative: "We buy yearlings every year and this year we offered the staff the chance to buy into two of them. Each person could take a share of up to five per cent and if the horses were good enough, we'd look to trade them.

Staff at Jessica Harrington's Commonstown yard will be on tenterhooks on WednesdayCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"Staff who bought into the horses were given the option of paying in one instalment, or by paying over time out of their wages. There are no further expenses after that, the horses are trained for free."

He added of the newcomer, who is owned by Jessie's Brat Pack Syndicate in conjunction with Su-Ann Khaw, Patrick Cooper and Elaine Lawlor: "She's worked well and seems a nice, straightforward filly. We'll be hoping she can make a good start to her career."

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