Hermana Estrella was a surprise winner of the Group Three Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint Stakes at Naas for Chris Hayes and Fozzy Stack.
A two-year-old daughter of Starspangledbanner, the filly was making her racecourse debut after being purchased for £42,000 as yearling.
The outsider of the field of seven, the bay started at 50-1 and cut through the field with two furlongs left to travel to take on leader Quick Suzy.
The two fillies locked horns from the furlong pole onwards, where Hayes' mount slowly began to pull away from her rival to record a one-length success.
Quick Suzy was the eventual runner-up, with Missing Matron in third as Aidan O’Brien’s hot favourite Contarelli Chapel disappointed in fourth.
Debutant Hermana Estrella (50-1) overcame considerable greenness to cause a shock in the Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint Stakes (Group 3) at @NaasRacecourse. pic.twitter.com/M3sStyqFoo
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) May 16, 2021
"She’s a very smart filly and Fozzy doesn’t make entries like that unless they are good," said Hayes
"She’s one of our nicer two-year-olds.
"She was green and raw as you would expect going against experienced company, but to me I was coasting and everything was going in slow motion.
"When Ryan’s (Moore) horse (Contarelli Chapel) faded away, I wanted to chase after Gary (Carroll, aboard Quick Suzy).
"She was green and ran around, but won with her ears pricked. She is one to look forward to.
"I sat on her twice at home, Mark Enright has been riding her in a bit of work and we have always held her in high regard – that’s why she had that entry."
A Case Of You (7-2) relished the soft ground to take the Group Three Goffs Lacken Stakes for Ronan Whelan and Adrian McGuinness.
The three-year-old bounced back from a disappointing performance in the 2,000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown in April, when he started favourite.
This time the colt ran on the heels of the leading group when dropping back to six furlongs, eventually involving himself in a tight four-way finish and crossing the line a neck ahead of Mooneista.
Ger Lyon's Power Under Me was third past the post, but following a stewards’ inquiry, he was awarded second place with Mooneista demoted to third after the pair got close together in the dying strides.
A Case Of You (7-2) gets up in the shadow of the post to win the Goffs Lacken Stakes (Group 3) at @NaasRacecourse. pic.twitter.com/AO0834SX67
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) May 16, 2021
"We gave him a break after Leopardstown where we were a bit disappointed with him," McGuinness said.
"He pulled hard that day and we said we’d drop him back to sprinting.
"Obviously that is his forte, he had to dig deep there today and he’s tough. I think he’ll improve a little bit as I haven’t been very hard on him, I gave him an easy time after Leopardstown.
"It’s great for the lads and at least they will be able to go to Royal Ascot now."
Logo Hunter (11-2) continued his fine run of form when a conclusive winner of the Listed Sole Power Sprint Stakes at Naas for trainer Michael Browne.
A 5,000 guineas purchase for owner Patrick Moyles, the gelded son of Brazen Beau had finished in the frame on each of his four previous runs this term, previously winning the Cork Racecourse Handicap before being narrowly denied in the Committed Stakes at Navan – the latter performance being his trainer's first ever runner in a Listed race.
This time the three-year-old was not going to be bettered and raced prominently under Seamie Heffernan to triumph by four and a quarter lengths.
"I couldn’t describe the feeling – it’s unreal," said Browne, who trains just five horses in Cashel.
"Seamie was adamant the whole time that he was a Group One sprinter and he’s right. I was doubtful with all the rain, but Seamie told me to run him.
"There is a race in Mallow in a bit over a fortnight’s time (the Listed Midsummer Sprint on 9 June) that he’ll probably go for. I’d like to have run him in the Commonwealth Cup, but he can’t go there as he’s a gelding.
"That’s his trip, five furlongs, and he’ll be a lot better on better ground.
"He doesn’t need any work, just keep him fresh.
"Unfortunately he’ll probably be sold, but he’s given me some thrill up to now."
The second Listed race on the card, the seven-furlong Owenstown Stud Stakes, went the way of Joseph O’Brien’s Snapraeterea (5-2F) and jockey Declan McDonogh.
The three-year-old made all and at one stage enjoyed a two-length lead, with runner-up Lustown Baba making a late challenge but ultimately finding O’Brien’s colt well able to hold on to a half-length victory.
Brendan Powell, assistant to O’Brien, said: "He really toughed it out there, he enjoys making the running and will stay a mile. He had a couple of runs and was fit and well.
"He settled there after a couple of furlongs and Declan has given him a brilliant ride."
