Empire strikes for Jessica Harrington – with the promise of Group races to come

Saturday: Naas

Those on the lookout for two-year-olds to follow would do well to study the action on this card, as several juveniles made tentative steps at making a name for themselves.

Principal among them was the Jessica Harrington-trained Keepupwithmyempire, who won impressively in the conditions race over 6f.

In the hands of Shane Foley, he quickened past warm favourite Victoria Road inside the last furlong and came clear up the hill to win by four lengths.

Assistant trainer and daughter Kate Harrington said: "The ground probably was not ideal for him. It was plenty on the soft side but he did it well and he'll improve for nicer ground. He's a lovely horse and stepped forward from his first run here.

"He has an entry in the Ballyhane Stakes [worth €300,000] here at the beginning of August, so he might go straight there and hopefully step into Group company after that."

Wow! Mauie

Ger Lyons wouldn't normally mention Group 1 targets for a maiden winner, but he was clearly taken with the performance of newcomer Mauiewowie.

Under Colin Keane, she quickened decisively inside the last furlong to go away from the experienced odds-on favourite Silmaniya and was not flattered by the winning margin of two and a quarter lengths.

"To be honest, I wasn't surprised," said the trainer. "We have always liked her. I was actually contemplating starting her in a stakes race. Let's hope she rocks on now to be a Cheveley Park Stakes filly in time – or something like that."

O'Leary double

Curragh trainer Ger O'Leary is currently at Wimbledon with his family and should be able to afford a few more bowls of strawberries and cream after carding a double.

Dylan Browne McMonagle was seen to good effect when partnering the Sean Dalton-owned Born Invincible to success in the second division of the apprentice sprint handicap, but that was outdone by the performance of topweight Pretty Rebel in the valuable fillies' handicap.

She provided Keane with the second leg of his double as she kept on strongly to beat Sister Lola by two and a quarter lengths.

Assistant trainer Adrian Joyce said: "We really fancied her today and she did it well. She has a lot of ability but she is ground-dependent. We might target a Listed fillies' race with her; she's entitled to do that now."

Results, replays and analysis

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