Bible Belt looks a filly that could go right to the top after pulverising her eleven rivals in the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Hurry Harriet Stakes at Gowran Park.
The 11/2 chance, successful in a valuable Leopardstown handicap off a mark of 102 on her only previous outing this year, made headway early in the straight to strike the front over a furlong out.
She quickly settled the issue by stretching clear and had five lengths to spare over 50/1 shot Hurricane Havoc at the line despite Shane Foley easing her down in the closing stages. Sapphire (11/2) was another head back in third with Kirinda fourth. Look At Me attracted strong support, going off the 100/30 favourite, but lost any chance of minor placings when involved in some scrimmaging with One Spirit and Enchanted Evening a furlong out and finished eighth.
One Spirit's jockey Keagan Latham was given a two day suspension for careless riding.
The successful filly (by Big Bad Bob) is a full-sister to Bob Le Beau, also a Listed winner for the stable this season, and trainer Jessica Harrington said, “She surprised me the way she quickened up and left them for dead. On paper it looked a competitive Listed race but, when Shane gave her a squeeze two furlongs out, she just took off. She's entered up in the Dance Design Stakes and the Blandford Stakes at the Curragh, and also the Group 1 Champion Fillies And Mares Stakes at Ascot.”
"That ends a long run of second's for us, it must be 11 or 12 including Steps To Freedom in the previous race," added Mrs Harrington. Boynagh Joy refused to enter stalls for the third successive time.
Alan Magee
