'Take two', as O'Callaghan's filly wins on handicap 'debut'

Roccia Bella fluffed her lines on handicap debut at the Curragh on September 1 but 'take two' went to plan at Gowran today as the Michael O'Callaghan trained filly landed the Gowran Golf Membership Apprentice Handicap.

Roccia Bella, a daughter of Fastnet Rock and whose name translates as 'beautiful rock', refused to load on her handicap 'bow' earlier in the month but today was much better behaved and in the end was produced with a well timed challenge under Gary Halpin to score a length and a half win over Dinkum Diamond

Following the race, O'Callaghan stated “I thought she had a big chance at the Curragh but she wouldn’t go into the stalls but she went in perfectly today.

“It was her first run in a handicap, and Gary (Halpin) said the ground was as testing as she would want it. The quicker she goes the better her action is, and he said she was bone idle.

“Hopefully she should be able to win again. She has the ability it’s just trying to eke it out of her.”

Quotes from Alan Magee