McCreery debutant causes upset in Fillies Maiden

The Willie McCreery trained Bella Colombia caused a big upset when making a winning debut in the opening Irish EBF Auction Series Fillies Maiden at Dundalk. Ashwiyaa third in Group 2 company on her latest start, was sent to post a warm 4-11f to give Michael O'Callaghan and Colin Keane a winning start to the afternoon.

That latter filly was well away under the champion jockey, sitting second in the early stages of the contest as Hispanolita made the running.

Moving up to lead over a furlong out, Ashwiyaa was quickly joined by Bella Colombia who arrived on her inner travelling easily under Nathan Crosse.

The daughter of The Last Lion, who had tracked the leaders in fifth, went third entering the straight before being produced with her challenge.

Ridden to lead over 200 yards out, Bella Colombia kept on strongly to register a surprise 25/1 win for owners COR Racing Syndicate.

Willie McCreery said: "She's a lovely filly. I brought her up here a couple of weeks ago just to see if she would like the surface.

"I thought it was a nice opportunity to start her off until I saw Ashwiyaa in it and I was a bit worried.

"She does everything professionally and is a lovely, straightforward filly.

"She has been a no-nonsense filly, loves being in training and does everything very easily. She's a good-moving filly and I think better ground suits her. She flicks over that top of the ground.

"I was nearly going to enter her for the race on Saturday, the five furlong Listed race up the Curragh, but I thought it could be a bit greedy or something. We will see what the lads want to do.

"We are in no hurry with her, she has done the job and we will see what is available.

"She would be for sale. She would be an ideal one for America, I'd say, the way she settled."

Additional reporting by Michael Graham.