Billie is Quick in Down Royal opener

Owned and bred by Sebastian Curran, Billie Be Quick made the breakthrough on her seventh start in the opener at Down Royal this afternoon, the Molson Coors Beverage Company Nursery Handicap.

Second over the course and distance in June and a close fourth when last seen at Naas, the Jessica Harrington trained bay was sent off the 9/4 favourite (from 7/2).

Settled behind the leaders by Shane Foley and a bit short of room from the two furlong pole, she was switched left with over a furlong to go.

Soon ridden to challenge, the market leader picked up well inside the final furlong and hit the front with less than 100 yards to go, eventually coming home a length and a quarter to the good.

Top-weight Moonhall Lass (13/2) had to settle for second under Luke McAteer, while Barton Key (15/2) was another half a length away in third.

"She has run well and has been consistent. She is a filly we always liked," Foley commented.

"Just a few niggly things and things didn't go right for her in a couple of races. She is learning and is starting to handle these types of tracks. She ideally wants a nice, level, good track, but she is learning on the job.

"She gave me a good feel and travelled really good today and picked up. She doesn't do a whole lot then when she gets to the front.

"She had been backing off a little bit, so I just decided to make up her mind a little bit the last day and I think it might have crowned her a bit. She had a good, hard race the last day - she could have gone one way or the other, and she stepped forward."

STEWARDS REPORT

N.M. Crosse, rider of No Straight Swaps trained by John S. O'Donoghue, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount ran around with the blinkers.

Additional reporting by Michael Graham