Moonlit Mist clears away in the closing stages

Moonlit Mist made most in first-time cheekpieces in the extended nine furlong maiden at Ballinrobe.

Gary Carroll worked her into an early lead and the pair dictated from there.

The leader was pushed along for more inside the final quarter of a mile and was ridden to win her race in the final furlong. Grey Nostringsattached delivered her effort in second entering the straight, but was outgunned in the closing stages as Moonlit Mist readily went on by two and three-quarter lengths.

The market got it right as the winner was nicely backed from 7/2 to 9/4f while the runner-up was returned at 5/2.

Trainer Joe Murphy said: "She's a staying type of filly and we were a little bit worried about whether she'd handle the track or be a bit green. There's more improvement to come from her. I think she's a nice filly going forward and I just love the sire, Australia. He gets very genuine horses.

"We'll see what the handicapper does with her now. That was a 0-75 and I hope he leaves her on 75, but he probably won't!"

Additional reporting by Mark Nunan