Blackpink and Shane Foley © Photo Healy Racing
Fresh from riding a first winner for John and Thady Gosden at Wolverhampton yesterday, Shane Foley today followed up for his employer Jessica Harrington, landing Dundalk's opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden on debutante Blackpink (17/2).
Racing with the leaders, Blackpink, by Sioux Nation, quickened smartly in the final furlong for a fine 3.75 lengths win over twice-raced Centuria
Foley steered Frankel-filly Strutting to score for retained owner Zhang Yuesheng on his only ride at Wolverhampton and today stated “I don't know how strong a race it was, but Blackpink is a filly we've always liked.
"She is a big, big girl and always was. Conor Hoban (pre-trainer) had her to mid-way during the year. She was that big we decided not to put her into training until halfway through and he did a great job letting her mature.
"Whatever she does now, I'll say that will be job done. She will make into a lovely three-year-old and I think she could be a stakes filly.
"She has a big stride, does things well at home so I was always going to keep it simple."
Quotes from Michael Graham
