Roca Roma repays connections patience

Roca Roma supplemented for the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh last Saturday but withdrawn on the day due to the fast ground conditions, got her season off to a winning start in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden at Gowran Park.

The Ger Lyons-trained daughter of Australia showed definite promise on her only juvenile start and was sent off the 1/2 favourite here despite a very wide draw.

Colin Keane got her quickly away from the stalls and was soon in front but the former champion needed to ask her a few serious questions in the straight before asserting to beat Elite Craft by two and a half lengths.

Inside Intel was a further three and a half lengths adrift in third.

Shane Lyons, brother and assistant trainer to Ger, said, “She did what she had to do and she did it the hard way. Colin kept it simple and made good of a bad draw.

“It was tough on the owners having supplemented for the Guineas and then to listen to our advice and pull her out. They were looking forward to it so much and are lads that want a bit of fun.

“They were rewarded here and once it’s nice safe ground we’ll go Stakes hunting with her now. She is a nice filly and we think a lot of her.

“I walked the track and felt it was yielding to soft up the straight and yielding everywhere else — lovely slow ground. However, Colin said it felt like good ground on her so she genuinely needs it soft.

“She’s in the Pretty Polly and a mile and two would suit her if the ground is right.”