Alanza his right note

Alanza: A ready winner despite the narrow winning margin

Alanza, the odds-on favourite, ran out a fairly ready winner of the Group Three Ballycorus Stakes at Leopardstown on Thursday.

The field for the seven furlong contest was reduced to six with 2009 winner Duff and One Spirit missing from the original declarations which saw John Oxx's daughter of Dubai Destination sent off a warm order.

Johnny Murtagh was keen to get her settled early on but, once he had done so, eased his way through the field to race in fourth behind Glor Na Mara with Marvada cutting out the running.

British raider Rodrigo De Torres was the first to take on the pacemaker who soon saw off that challenge but Alanza loomed large on the outside under a confident Murtagh.

The four year old had to work harder than seemed likely to get past Marvada, who had finished two places behind her last time out, but the 8-11 shot was well on top at the line and value for more than the winning margin of a neck, in the process paying a compliment to her Curragh conqueror Emulous, who is bound for Royal Ascot next week.

Newmarket Next

Oxx said: "She won nicely, as we hoped she would. She doesn't do a lot in front - I thought she was going to win two lengths but she was dossing in front.

"The ground has gone a bit for her, she wants good to firm - she loves that.

"I think we'll give her another shot at a Group One, in the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket. She's good at seven furlongs but we'll give her one more shot at a mile.

"We decided against taking her over for the Windsor Forest as it's tough at Ascot."

Early Strike

Oxx and Murtagh had earlier struck with Harasiya, like Alanza owned by the Aga Khan and who looks to have a very bright future judged on her effort in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Fillies Maiden.

Oxx said: "That was a nice run and she's won nicely for her first time.

"It was a good effort too considering that she was slowly away. We liked her but you're never sure how green they'll be first time.

"She might be one to aim at the Moyglare - we'll run her in a month's time and then think about the Debutante in August - we'll see how she measures up in her prep race.

"She's by Pivotal and they like a little ease so we mightn't run her on good to firm.

"Her dam (Hazariya) was quite a good filly - she got a fracture in the Oaks - she stayed well."