Gin Blossom off the mark on fourth start

It was all very straightforward for the 11/10 favourite Gin Blossom in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction (Fillies) Maiden.

The grey daughter of Make Believe, runner-up in her two outings last season, had lost her chance at the start first time out this season at Tipperary.

Fitted with first-time cheekpieces, she got away from stalls reasonably well on this occasion and tracked the leaders early.

Asked to improve her position as they straightened up, she picked up well and raced to the front a furlong out before striding clear of the pace-setting Miss Molly T

Four lengths was the margin at the line leaving winning rider Shane Crosse with six more winners to ride before he loses his 3lbs claim.

Brendan Powell, assistant to winning trainer Joseph O’Brien, remarked: "She did it nicely. She fell out of the stalls in Tipperary and was always on the back foot but stayed on nicely over a bit shorter.

“Shane said she was a little bit slow today but he got into a nice position and she quickened up well and quickened away.

“He said she felt good in the last furlong and loved that ground. I think she will end up staying. She's gone and shed her maiden tag now and we'll see what happens from there.

“Knowing if she keeps improving there no doubt he'll look for some black-type. It's important for their pedigrees and he usually tries to do that with those fillies.

“I suppose we'll have to see what the handicapper will give her as well for that.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson