Danehill tastes success in Heinz

Danehill Dancer, trained at Newmarket by Neville Callaghan, won the Heinz 57 Phoenix Stakes at Leopardstown yesterday after being backed from 4-1 to 2-1 favourite.

Ridden by Pat Eddery, back from suspension, Danehill Dancer hit the front a furlong out and, despite showing signs of inexperience, held the Peter Chapple-Hyam-trained Woodborough by a neck to take the IRpounds 98,000 first prize.

"This is the first real race he's has had,'' Callaghan said later. ``He'll have one more run, possibly back in Ireland in the National Stakes, before we put him away until next year. He looks like a three-year-old already."

The Barry Hills-trained April The Eighth, another strongly fancied runner from Britain, faded inside the final two furlongs as Danehill Dancer challenged on the outside.

Favourite backers were already counting their winnings before John Reid rallied Woodborough to narrow the deficit from the best part of a length to a neck in the last 100 yards.

Eddery said: "My mount did it well. I have always known he was good and after today, I rate him the best two-year-old I have sat on this year."

LEOPARDSTOWN

Heinz 57 Phoenix Stakes, 6f

1. DANEHILL DANCER (Pat Eddery) 2-1 fav; 2. Woodborough 11-2; 3. Catch A Glimpse 25-1. 10 ran. nk, 1/2. (N Callaghan, Newmarket). Tote: pounds 3.30; pounds 1.80, pounds 1.20, pounds 7.10. Reverse forecast: pounds 5.40. CSF: pounds 13.34.