First stakes win for No Nay Never

Red-hot No Nay Never sired his first black-type winner on Sunday when Jessica Harrington sent out Servalan (2f No Nay Never-Catch The Eye, by Oratorio) to prevail in Listed company at Naas.

The exciting filly was slowly away in the Listed Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies' Sprint Stakes but gradually made up ground under Seamie Heffernan to win the six-furlong contest by a length and a quarter.

“She is very good and will go to Ascot although I’m not sure in what race she will run. We will see nearer the time,” said Harrington. “Servalan luckily missed the break a bit and Seamie dropped her in. When he pulled her out she was very easy and quickened up great.”

“She came on well from her first run and will come on again.”

Servalan, who is owned by Vimal Khosla and was bred by Noeleen McCreevy, also made a good impression on Heffernan.

“(Jessie) liked the two-year-old and said she was very quick and to make sure that she settled,” said the jockey. “Jessie said that the filly wouldn't disappoint if she turned it on. She has an engine. I'd say she could be Ascot-bound.”

No Nay Never’s late sire Scat Daddy was also responsible for the day’s other major winners at Naas in the shape of Sioux Nation (3c Scat Daddy-Dream The Blues, by Oasis Dream), who landed the G3 Lacken Stakes, and Sergei Prokofiev (2c Scat Daddy-Orchard Beach, by Tapit) took the Listed Coolmore War Command Rochestown Stakes by four lengths.

Servalan was winning 24 hours after The Irish Rover (2c No Nay Never-Shelley Beach, by Danehill Dancer) won a valuable Newbury conditions event for No Nay Never. The Aidan O’Brien-trained colt is 6/1 second-favourite for the G2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot with bookmaker Racebets.