Bellaphina strikes for Kinsella & Maxwell

The opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden was won by 20/1 chance Bellaphina in the hands of Conor Maxwell.

Given a mark of 77 after two creditable runs in Leopardstown maidens last term, the daughter of James Garfield tracked the leaders and turned for home in fifth place. She picked up well to collar the front-running Sweetest Rose inside the final furlong and was a length and a quarter in front of that rival at the line.

The winner is trained in Rathdrum, Co Wicklow by John Kinsella.

Kinsella said: "There was a lot of improvement in her but coming down we weren't sure if she'd go on the ground. Thankfully she did.

"She had two good runs last year and had a touch of sore shins after her second run and that's why she didn't see it out but we knew she was good and put her away.

"We'll see how she comes out of this and she would want better ground."

He added "I have 15 in training, that's my first Flat winner and we had a couple of good ones which we sold including (Listed winner) Limiti Di Greccio to Paddy Twomey and (Group 3 winner) Commanche Country which went to America.

"It's nice to get the first Flat winner."

Quotes from Tom Weekes