Bells On Her Toes, red cap, hits the line a neck in front of Bantry© Photo Healy Racing
It was all change in the closing stages of the Gowran Park Handicap over seven furlongs as 10/3 joint favourite Bells On Her Toes swept through to win. Coumshingaun boxed on at the head of affairs well into the final furlong, however, Bells On Her Toes with the flashy white socks was unleashed by Andrew Slattery to pick her off with 100 yards to travel.
The race wasn't quite done and dusted, though, as Bantry (33/1) stormed home from stone last to get to within a neck at the line. Coumshingaun (4/1 from 15/2) came in a length away in third.
Trainer Andrew Slattery said: “It's grand to get that. Eithne and Geoffrey (Thompson) bred her and she's a half-sister to With Thanks.
“We thought she was a nice filly early on in the year but she disappointed a few times. She seems to be coming back now.
“The ground was probably as quick as she'd want it. She was unlucky here the last day.
“They didn't go much of a gallop and she was only staying on at the finish. I think she'll go a mile and she will be better on softer ground. The handicapper can't do too much with her.
“With Thanks won the Athasi Stakes and she's a half-sister so a win on her card is the main thing.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
