Foniska relished the heavy conditions at Cork on Tuesday to record a first Listed success in the Navigation Stakes over a mile.
Trained by Jessica Harrington, the filly benefited from a hefty weight allowance as one of two three-year-old fillies in the thirteen-runner field. A return to front-running tactics appeared to suit the daughter of Galileo, with jockey Shane Foley encouraging the filly to draw clear at the two furlong marker. She finished three-lengths ahead of the Joseph O'Brien trained Snapraeterea with Clever And Cool a further two-and-a-quarter lengths back in third.
"She has enjoyed making the running in the past. She had a good run in the Salsabil in Navan on deep ground and I think the key to her is ground," said jockey Shane Foley after the race.
"She went to Ascot when the ground was very firm and came back sore, but Mrs Harrington and Kate [daughter and assistant] have done a good job to get her back.
"Her work has really come on in the last couple of weeks and we were quietly confident coming down today, with the ground the way it was. I liked the way she picked up between the three [furlong pole] and the two and even down to the one again. She kept quickening and gave me a feel."
"I think she is improving and I don't know if she's in the [owner's] dispersal sale or not, but if she stays in training, she will definitely compete in those better races next year on soft ground.
"Jessie will be delighted as the Niarchos family are massive supporters of our yard and it is a good time to be having good winners with the sales on."
Foniska is entered for the Goffs Breeding Stock Sale in November as part of the Niarchos dispersal.
