The Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club (QREC) sponsored the Group 3 Qatar Racing And Equestrian Club Ballyogan Stakes in Curragh, Ireland, on Wednesday. The black-type event over six furlongs for three-year-old and older fillies and mares was won by the five-year-old mare Sonaiyla, who carries the colours of Moyglare Stud Farm.
Trained by Paddy Twomey and ridden by Ronan Whelan, the mare started favourite in the 13-runner race. Leaving the gates, she dived sharply to the left before her jockey managed to bring her back into the race. The field came over to the stand’s side rail, with Sonaiyla in mid-division. There was not much pace in the early stages, but the rhythm began to pick up at the half-way stage.
Racing inside the final 400m, Sonaiyla came to join More Beautiful on the lead. Teresa Mendoza came to challenge, but Sonaiyla pulled clear, only to have Romantic Proposal fly up on her outside. The two ran neck-and-neck for several strides before Sonaiyla found an extra burst to hit the line half a length in front of her challenger, who is trained by Edward Lynam and was ridden by Shane Crosse. Teresa Mendoza held on well for third, one and a half lengths further behind, for trainer Jessica Harrington and jockey Ben Coen.
“We’re delighted to win,” Twomey said after the win. “Ronan said he was lucky to stay aboard [leaving the stalls]. She’s a tough, hardy filly and she takes racing well. She enjoys a bit of a scrap, so it probably helped!”
Clearly estimated by her connections, Sonaiyla is entered in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes and King’s Stand Stakes, both Group 1 races over five furlongs, at Royal Ascot.
Sonaiyla’s victory in the Qatar Racing And Equestrian Club Ballyogan Stakes was just her second run since changing trainer, following a third place in her seasonal bow over the same course and distance less than two weeks ago.