AFTER starting her season with three honourable efforts in defeat, which featured runner-up efforts in the Pretty Polly and the Irish Oaks, Cayenne Pepper excelled on her return to 10 furlongs to dominate the Group 2 Moyglare Jewels Blandford Stakes.

This was a well-deserved success for Jessica Harrington’s charge but even more so a poignant one with the filly’s owner Jon Kelly having passed away just a few days after the Irish Oaks.

Shane Foley always held a prime position on Cayenne Pepper (3/1) and the daughter of Australia set about stamping her authority on this race as the last furlong loomed.

As the line loomed, she surged away from the front-running outsider Amma Grace to score by four lengths. She looks like another Harrington inmate with live pretensions of making their mark at the highest level before the end of the year..

“It’s great but it’s very sad that Jon isn’t with us to see this,” commented the trainer’s daughter Kate. “This filly had a lot of problems in the spring and today was the first day I thought that she looked strong in the parade ring.

“The plan is for her to head to Keeneland for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and then possibly stay on for the Breeders Cup Filly & Mare Turf. It would be nice for her to go to America so Jon’s wife Sarah can see her run.”

Resounding triumph

A memorable weekend for Johnny Murtagh ended on a high as Sonnyboyliston maintained his progression with a resounding triumph in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Northfields Handicap over 10 furlongs.

Another relentless improver for the trainer, this Kildare Racing Club-owned three-year-old had gone up 31lb in the weights for his three previous runs which yielded two wins and strong form lines relating to horses who had since excelled at pattern level.

This classy and still improving 4/1 shot seemed to effortlessly make his way into a challenging position for Billy Lee heading into the last couple of furlongs and he stormed clear to win by four and a quarter lengths and look every inch a stakes horse.

“I thought he might be our best chance of the weekend. He’s done well and he will have no trouble going a mile and a half. I think he’s a horse we should have next year and maybe he will have one more run this season in something like the Trigo Stakes to see where he fits in,” stated Murtagh.

As a result of this success. Sonnyboyliston has been raised a further 13lb to 112, just 3lb below Irish Derby winner Santiago.

Like stable companion Champers Elysees, Sonnyboyliston was bought by the trainer himself at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale for only €26,000.