The experience of a previous outing at Sandown has helped Qeyaady breakthrough for his maiden victory in the IVE>Print Handicap.
Nicely-bred two-year-old Qeyaady has carried the Shadwell Stud colours to victory in the IVE>Print Handicap (1000m) at Sandown on Monday.
Qeyaady made his debut at the course when beaten under five lengths behind Blue Diamond and Golden Slipper placegetter Anamoe in the Listed Merson Cooper Stakes last November and that experience was decisive in Monday’s victory.
The Lindsay Park-trained two-year-old then went on to finish third at The Valley before a break with stable representative Dara O’Meachair saying Qeyaady has returned a more mature galloper this campaign.
Ridden by Mark Zahra, Qeyaady ($7) registered victory by a head from $5 favourite Deluxe Legend with Shootoose ($19) a half-length away third.
“He wasn’t disgraced in that Merson Cooper and the benefit of having that run and at The Valley certainly helped him,” O’Meachair said.
“He was able to jump away cleanly, put himself right on speed and control the race.
“He’s matured and has come back well after his time in the paddock.
“He’s got a great pedigree, being a colt by I Am Invincible and I’m sure the plan will be to try and get him some black type now.”
Having his first ride on the colt, Zahra said he was a nice type and that early experience was a benefit.
“I was two lengths in front shortly after the start so I just went from there,” Zahra said.
“The other leader (Askew) was a little keener than me and I hate sitting second inside another horse, so I had to keep the front.
“I probably had him at his top a long way out, so he’s done a good job because in the last 50 metres I thought he’d had enough but he seemed to find enough when Sad’s horse (Deleuxe Legend) came up on the outside.”
