Son Of Westerner Flies Home On Debut At Knockanard

No Flies On Him (4g Westerner - Zalda, by) shaped like a smart prospect when storming home to win the Four-Year-Old Maiden at Knockanard on Sunday.

Handler Derek O’Connor donned the colours of JP McManus and gave the newcomer a patient ride towards the back of the field. Improving to chase the leaders by the second last, he took second approaching the final flight and was ridden to lead on the run-in, running on to score by three parts of a length.

No Flies On Him was bought by Michael Hyde at the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale for €82,000. Bred by Mr G Adair and Mr M O’Callaghan, the son of Westerner becomes the first winner out of Zalda.

Castlehyde Stud sire Westerner was responsible for another smart winner the previous day, when Western Safire (5m Westerner - Silver Sophfire, by Silver Patriarch) made a winning start over hurdles at Uttoxeter.

The Miss Williamson-owned mare was last seen in June, when finishing second in a bumper, and made her first start for Laura Morgan in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle over two miles. Ridden to make all by Patrick Cowley, she was travelling well with three flights left to jump and was shaken up to draw clear from the next. Pushed out on the run-in, she won by five and a half lengths, unchallenged.

Bred by Mrs O O'Leary Lucey, Western Safire provides an important update for her three-year-old full-brother, who was bought by Brown Island Stables as a foal.