Taman Desert win the Irish EBF Median Sires

The well-supported Taman Desert lived up to her market favour and narrowly edged out Medici Venus to win the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Fillies Maiden.

A purchase for €27,000 at the Tattersalls Breeze Up Sale, the Eoghan O'Neill-trained bay filly, who is also entered in the Group 1 Fillies Mile at Newmarket, finished tenth out of 18 on her debut at Leopardstown in July.

Supported heavily from 8/1 to 3/1 favourite, Taman Desert raced in mid-division under Billy Lee. She made her move on the outside approaching the straight and, with a strong challenge over the final 150 yards, managed to secure victory by a short head.

The runner-up, Medici Venus, trained by Aidan O'Brien, was a disappointment to punters, drifting from an early 6/4 to 4/1. 

Tom Cooper’s Famed Again (66/1) ran a commendable race to finish third, a length and three-quarters behind, while the well-backed Deressa (4/1 from 10s) had a troubled run from the furlong pole and ended up in fifth.

Reflecting on the race, O'Neill commented, "She was very green on her debut, and Billy noted she was still a bit inexperienced today and needed his assistance. It’s very pleasing she managed to get there. She came from the breeze-up where Miriam O'Donnell did a fantastic job with her. She's a work in progress, and we’ll likely consider the Weld Stakes next, but we'll assess her at home first."