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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Mia Maria off the mark for Weld

Sat 20th Jul 2019, 18:43

Mia Maria sheds her maiden tagMia Maria sheds her maiden tag
© Photo Healy Racing

Mia Maria was a warm order to land the fillies' maiden in the Curragh and she did so with the minimum of fuss.

She was last seen finishing third behind Pink Dogwood at Gowran Park in September on heavy ground.

Punters sent her off the even-money favourite to score which she did by three parts of a length.

She travelled well for Oisin Orr just behind Bellakis and Guinevere before tanking into the lead racing past the two marker.

The aforementioned duo quickly came under pressure as Mia Maria put herself well in charge in the final furlong. Bellakris (4/1) kept on to her credit and closed at the finish without ever looking like catching the snug winner. Jazz And Blues came through for third, a further three lengths away, at 16/1 from 25/1.

Dermot Weld said: “She did it nicely. It was a good confident ride from Oisin, she just got a little bit tired going to the line.

“We'll look for a winner of one or a Listed race for her, maybe Gowran or somewhere.

“She's a nice filly in the making. She's tall, lean and progressive.

“I thought she'd win and she did it nicely.”

Newcomer New York Ballet reared leaving the stalls and came out without jockey Declan McDonogh.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson

1st
1/1Fav
Tote €1.90 €1.10
2nd
0.75L
4/1
€1.50
3rd
3L
16/1
€4.10
4th
0.75L
33/1
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.