Maeda Matsu
Maeda Matsu was impressive in winning the opening fillies' maiden run over seven furlongs at Naas on Sunday. A little keen through the early stages just behind the leaders, she travelled well into the home straight and she picked up nicely when Rory Cleary asked her to. She hit the front on the run to the furlong marker and, despite still showing signs of greenness, she picked up impressively to hit the front deep inside the final furlong before going on to win by three parts of a length from Star Glory, who has a rating of 81, with the first three home finishing nicely clear of their rivals.
Sheila Lavery's filly surprised many when she finished second behind the high-class filly Livenka in the valuable Ballyhane Stakes at Naas on her previous run at 100/1. She wasn't as big as that here obviously, but she was weak in the market. She belied the market drift though by winning emphatically. She saw out this seven-furlong trip well, and she left the impression that she would improve again for this experience. Her trainer said afterwards that the Listed Ingabelle Stakes at the Irish Champions' Festival would be next up for her, and she will be of big interest in that. Leopardstown should suit her well, and she might be under-rated going into that, hailing from a small yard. Longer term, she should have no problem staying a mile next year, all going well.
Naas, 23rd August 2026
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