Seamie Heffernan recorded a big-race treble at Naas this afternoon, including the feature Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes and the Silver Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes, which bookended success in the Group 3 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Stanerra Stakes.
Heffernan was brilliant as Chief Little Hawk defied top weight to snatch the €150,000 first prize in a dramatic finish to Europe's richest two-year-old race.
A maiden winner at Navan on the third day of racing’s post-lockdown resumption more than two months ago, the Aidan O’Brien-trained colt had disappointed on a number of occasions in the meantime before catching the eye when coming home strongly behind Frenetic in the Listed Curragh Stakes nine days ago.
The son of Air Force Blue relished the step up to six furlongs for the first time and needed every yard of it, his pilot getting his head in front right on the line to deny Monaasib and garner the €150,000 winner’s prize.
Mooneista (Jack Davison) rattled home under Ronan Whelan to finish third.
"He was one of our Ascot horses and was impressive at Navan" explained Heffernan afterwards.
"The last day at the Curragh he ran out past the line, so I was coming here fancying him today.
"Today was his first try at six furlongs and he got it real well. There is a chance that he might getanother furlong and if he does, he’s got loads of speed to travel right.
"I thought I’d won but at Killarney the other day I thought I’d won as well (on So Wonderful) and it was only a nose, so maybe my eyesight is not as good as it was."
Sweet Gardenia finished just over four and a half lengths behind Chief Little Hawk in the aforementioned Curragh Stakes most recently, and landed the Silver Irish Ebf Ballyhane Stakes at a massive 50/1.
The John Murphy-prepared filly found an extra leg on meeting the rising ground this time around, accelerating out of the pack to prevail very cosily by three and a quarter lengths from Notoriously Risky.
"We’re delighted with that" said George Murphy, son and assistant to the victorious Upton-based trainer.
"She was just a little bit green on her first couple of runs. She did that very well and Seamie said she’s well able for a step up in class and she felt like a group filly."
That completed the treble for Heffernan after he had steered Passion to an uneventful pillar-to-post triumph in the Group 3 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Stanerra Stakes.
There was some consolation for Hayes for missing out on the feature as he guided Noel Meade-trained Layfayette to score in the Good Luck To Our 20 Lockdown Heroes Handicap, flashing home late to collar the unlucky pacesetter Wilderness in the shadow of the post, having had seven in frontat the furlong pole.
Kevin Manning charted an outside course from off the pace to claim the opening Listed Owenstown Stud Stakes and provide trainer Johnny Feane with his first Stakes victory.
The Weatherbys GBS Handicap went to the Sheila Lavery-trained and Wayne Lordan-ridden Half Nutz while It’s All A Joke bagged the concluding Heritage Hotel Handicap for Ado McGuinness and Ronan Whelan.
