De Lady In Red stays on well for Barry O'Neill © Photo Healy Racing
The Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Flat Race went to the 2/1 favourite De Lady In Red under Barry O’Neill.
The daughter of Jet Away was poised to strike racing down into the dip on the final circuit but was outpaced on the approach to the straight as Jesina was driven into the lead
The latter didn’t negotiate the home turn very well though, and wandered under pressure up the straight, thereby giving the favourite an opportunity which she grasped.
Keeping a straighter course towards the far side, the chestnut stayed on well to lead inside the final furlong and beat the errant Jesina by two lengths.
Having shown promise in a couple of maiden hurdles at Navan in the spring, the successful 5-year-old was bought by current connections for 64,000 guineas.
Winning trainer Barry Connell said: “That's a nice start. She had very good hurdles form and we weren't sure whether she'd be a bumper mare or not as she probably wants a trip.
“He had to go to the castle to pull her up so she's probably done well to win over two miles.
“We'll go back hurdling with her now. I think there is a mares’ hurdles in Roscommon after Listowel and we might look at that.
“She's going to handle winter ground as well, she's not just a summer mare. For a handy enough mare she jumps well.
“It was grand to get that job done. She's tough, she had to battle at the end of it. I thought coming down the hill she had everything cooked but she had to pull it out in the end.”
Quotes from Gary Carson
