Flying Jib is well clear at Dundalk© Photo Healy Racing
Dermot Weld’s Flying Jib (6/4) put her rivals in their place when powering away to win the seven furlong fillies maiden at Dundalk.
It may not have been as taking a performance as that of juvenile colt Free Eagle at Leopardstown on Thursday, but she impressed nonetheless.
The Oasis Dream juvenile turned around the form of her debut run when fourth, a length and a quarter behind Tap Dancing in third, in a six furlong Curragh maiden in May.
Tap Dancing (11/8f) took the field along this afternoon with Wayne Lordan in the plate, but had no answer when Flying Jib arrived alongside her at the furlong pole. Pat Smullen pushed her out for a comfortable four and a quarter length success.
“She had a fairly good run the first day at the Curragh and the step up to seven furlongs suited,” Pat Smullen said.
“She travelled sweetly and quickened up well. To be honest coming here today I expected to beat Wayne’s filly (Tap Dancing).
"She's a very good-actioned filly and she strode out well. I thought stepping up a furlong would help our filly.
"She's got a future and is hopefully a black-type filly."
On Free Eagle, who was so impressive at Leopardstown on Thursday, Smullen commented: "He's come out of the race well. He looked immature in the paddock beforehand. A winter on his back will help him. I'm just glad we have him!" Tuilelaith stepped up markedly on her first outing to come home third for Harry Rogers and Connor King at 33/1. She had been last at Naas behind Great White Eagle on August 5.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
