The Ger Lyons trained Black Sails made a winning debut in the Curragh 'Where Champions Are Made' Race at the Curragh today, scoring in smart style under jockey Colin Keane to provide her owner Sheikh Fahad (Qatar Racing Limited) with a first winner as a breeder.

The daughter of Lope De Vega improved, from behind the leaders, to lead inside the final furlong and at the line held a length and a quarter lead over runner-up Another Batt

Afterwards Lyons stated “she’s a lovely raw filly and I think the world of her. I was planning to start her off in about four weeks time but I took the view that the winners races were not filling (just six horses ran), and if there was a winner in the race he wouldn’t give her a penalty and the fillies allowance.

“I think she will progress into a stakes filly, and she will progress through the season. She could be anything at the moment. I think she is the first homebred winner for the owner (through The Missouri Belle Partnership).”

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Alan Magee