Sho Girl too hot for Roscommon rivals

There were several fancied for the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Fillies Maiden at Roscommon including Coco Bella (14/1 this morning into 9/2) and Hidden Lite (16/1 earlier into 8/1). However it was favourite backers that were smiling after the extended mile three furlong contest as Sho Girl (3s into 5/2 on track) prevailed.

From the in-form Patrick Prendergast yard, the once previously raced Sho Girl led under Declan McDonogh, from over a furlong out, and she stretched on inside the last to beat the aforementioned Hidden Lite by four and a half lengths. There was the same gap back to the easy-to-back Summer Star in third.

Prendergast commented of the Ballylinch Stud-owned Sho Girl: "She'd want to win from her Navan run as the winner (Just Pretending) went on to win a Group 3 (the Guineas Trial). I was worried about her getting home on that ground because on pedigree it was doubtful she'd stay.

"It was a mare's four-year-old maiden though and we had to take a chance.

"I'm delighted because she's a nice honest filly. We'll go for a handicap and take it from there now. Hopefully there'll be improvement in her." (TW & EM)