Not Even Close (right) © Photo Healy Racing
A course and distance barrier trial winner last month, Not Even Close (4/1) put that experience to good use in the the two-year-old fillies' maiden.
Donnacha O'Brien 's filly settled well behind the leaders and quickened up to lead a furlong out. Having looked likely to win decisively, she came back to her rivals in the last hundred yards and was all out to hold Perseids and Starry Eyed by a neck and the same.
Winning rider Gavin Ryan said: "It did, I suppose (barrier trial experience stood to her). She's the type of filly, though, she has such a good attitude that even when she came here to a barrier trial, she had very little done at home. She did it very professionally that day as well.
"She's probably just one with a good attitude and nothing really seems to faze her."
On the winner's Irish 1,000 Guineas entry, he added: "We can also have those dreams, it is a long time away yet but she's a nice filly and going the right way about doing things.
"I think she would be better suited by going further and she is probably a filly to get a bit of a trip next year.
"It was good to get her started today and she will be a nice filly for next year."
Quotes from Michael Graham
