Cheek-pieces a help as Beauty sheds maiden tag at 7th attempt

Just a little along with three lengths separated the first five home in the seven runner Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap at Gowran. Himalayan Beauty shed her maiden tag at the seventh attempt to land the spoils for Jessica Harrington and Shane Foley.

Sebastian Curran owns and bred Himalayan Beauty. She was a second three-year-old filly by The Gurkha to score on the day, following on from Miramis in the 2.15 contest.

With first-time cheek-pieces on Himalayan Beauty fought off all comers inside the final quarter mile, coming out on top by three parts of a length from pace-setter and market-leader Red Heel

“She was good. I thought she'd win in Navan, for Nathan (Crosse), the last day, but for some reason she just didn't come down the hill and a mile-and-a-quarter probably stretched her a bit,” said Foley.

“We decided to drop her back, she's a filly we've always liked at home. She's a little bit hot but the more racing she's getting the better she is getting. She was good today and toughed it out well.

“The cheek-pieces definitely helped, she jumped and travelled sweetly. I thought there was going to be a bit more pace in it and ended up closer than ideal but it worked out well.”

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer reported to the Stewards that Lovely Sheila (USA) trained by John E. Kiely was found to have blood at the nostrils post race, possibly as a result of exercise induced pulmonary haemorrhage.

(GC & EM)