Lady Tilbury and Billy Lee © Photo Healy Racing
Lady Tilbury (7/2) booked her Royal Ascot ticket in winning Cork's Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden today, scoring a first notable success for winning trainer David Marnane's MRC International syndicate of owners.
Ridden by Billy Lee, the daughter of Bated Breath travelled strongly throughout the five furlongs and quickened to an easy three lengths win from Woman Chief
Marnane later said “the syndicate is a concept we came up with last year - we have 40 members from Australia, America, Luxembourg, Ireland and England and Dubai and have 19 two year olds. We've already had a holiday in Dubai, we are trying to make it fun with more involvement and it is a two year project.
“I have been quiet for the last few years — we had a tendency to buy horses and hold on to them for a long time and not replace but what we are trying to do now is buy lots of horses and go back to the sales next year and buy the same, if not more, next year.
“We can train but we need horses, it is as simple as that.”
Regarding Lady Tilbury, he added “she learned from Dundalk when she came home well. I loved the way she hit the line and swapped over leads and was gone around the corner. She looked like a straight track would suit her.
“We think she is very good and think she'll improve a lot. Billy said a horse galloped by her on the way to the start which lit her up a bit but is much more relaxed than that.
“There is a winners' race in Tipperary and I think she is the type of filly to step up to a higher level.”
“I've trained handicap winners at Royal Ascot and we think this is is a Queen Mary filly. She is a fine big strong unit, will improve and is by a good sire and has a great mind. She has booked her Royal Ascot place on the evidence of today.”
