Belle Boyd strides clear for Billy Lee© Photo Healy Racing
Belle Boyd showed the benefit of two previous outings when landing the odds with some style in the iBus PLC Irish EBF Fillies Maiden at Naas.
The daughter of Oasis Dream had her task eased a little when well-bred newcomer Goldrush was absent due to lameness, and the Godolphin home-bred was well supported on track from 4/5 into 8/13.
Billy Lee sent her to the front soon after halfway in this mile event, and she took control from over a furlong out.
The hot favourite stayed on strongly to beat Dayereh by six lengths, with Jasaara a further four and a half lengths away in third.
Winning trainer Willie McCreery said, “The filly (Petticoat) that beat us last time is decent, and she did that well. They went steady early but she put it to bed well.
“Billy said that he was able to set his own fractions. She is improving the whole time, and the more experience she is getting the better.
“She was very tricky to get into the stalls, and it took us a long time to get her in. She was losing confidence, and in fairness Will Hayes has done a great job with her. She stood there like a lamb, and she’s popping out a lot more settled in her races.
“We might come back in trip rather than forward. She has plenty of boot and we may bring her back to seven. The aim with all Sheikh Mohammed’s fillies is to get some black type.”
