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Carroll seals double aboard Girl Crush

Girl Crush winning under Gary CarrollGirl Crush winning under Gary Carroll
© Photo Healy Racing

Gary Carroll booted home a quick-fire double at Roscommon when Girl Crush landed race two on the card - the three-year-old fillies' maiden over an extended seven furlongs.

She broke very from the gates and took the field along. At the two pole she looked vulnerable to strong-travelling Dabana who moved up from second to range alongside.

Girl Crush kept finding along the rail, however, when ridden by Carroll a furlong and a half down. Dabana edged left when she was ridden and was unable to overtake her rival. Girl Crush kept up the gallop and had Dabana beaten in the final 100 yards.

Joseph Murray 's filly delivered by a length and a quarter at 11/5 from the 2/1 favourite Dabana. Glamourista kept on for third at 10/1.

Carroll said: "I had ridden her in a couple of bits of work and she's a clear-winded filly. She's very genuine.

"Especially after running over further last time, I said if I could land in front, and let her stride on, I knew she would get to the line well. She did that today.

"I felt her (Dabana) there at the two (pole) and, when I got to the furlong pole and she wasn't by me, I said I have a chance here now. My one really got to the line well.

"She handled that ground well and I think she would go around Galway. She's a versatile filly. With a bit of luck, she will step into handicap company and progress."

1st
11/5
Tote €3.20 €1.10
2nd
1.25L
2/1Fav
€1.20
3rd
0.75L
10/1
€3.00
4th
3.75L
5/1
About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.