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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Improvista driven home by Foley

Thu 5th Sep 2024, 16:45

Improvista, white cap, scores by three-quarters of a lengthImprovista, white cap, scores by three-quarters of a length
© Photo Healy Racing

Shane Foley earned his fee on Improvista who made the breakthrough for Jessica Harrington in the fillies and mares' maiden over an extended nine-furlongs in Clonmel.

The Frankel filly claimed Next Trick racing to the final quarter of a mile and looked set to make the best way home.

However, she started to hang markedly left approaching the final furlong which gave a staying-on Ina Mina a sniff.

Foley was strong on his mount in the closing stages as he kept her straight in the centre of the track and the pair fended off Ina Mina by three-parts of a length at 11/2 in first-time cheekpieces.

Runner-up Ina Mina was backed from 8/1 to 5/1 and was a length and three-parts clear of Elana Osario (13/2).

Assistant trainer Kate Harrington said: "She was not right after her last run and it is great to get her back. We had taken her very slowly, but she had been working very well at home.

"I think she saw the stableyard, but she did it how she liked and Shane said as soon as the other horse came to her, she quickened up away.

"She has a Group entry at Gowran (Group 3 Denny Cordell Lavarack & Lanwades Stud Fillies Stakes) later this month, so could easily take her chance in that."

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes

1st
11/2
Tote €6.50 €1.70
2nd
0.75L
5/1
€1.90
3rd
1.75L
13/2
€2.40
4th
3.5L
9/1
bf
3.25L
9/4Fav
About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.