Purple Lily beats Tannola © Photo Healy Racing
Purple Lily lunged late to land the spoils in the Colm Quinn BMW Irish EBF Fillies Maiden at Galway.
The Paddy Twomey-trained filly was held up in the seven-furlong contest after missing the kick slightly and was given a patient ride by Billy Lee.
Another newcomer, Tannola looked to have made a winning move when swooping to lead just inside the final furlong with Purple Lily in fourth at that stage.
Lee got a good tune from the well-backed 5/2 favourite in the closing stages though as the Calyx filly found her feet late, getting up close home for a neck success.
The winner, backed from 9/2, cost €155,000 at the breeze-up sales at Tattersalls in late May.
"Alan (O'Flynn, owner) asked me to buy a horse at the two-year-old sale but I kept saying 'wait, wait' so we got to Fairyhouse and gave him the choice of two and he picked this one," said Twomey.
"Brian O'Connell (previous handler) did a fantastic job and she breezed very nicely, had a good action and temperament and Brian recommended her highly. We have a nice bunch of two-year-olds and I think she is a very nice filly and hopefully can go on to bigger and better things.
"She has no entries but will have to get some now and the Ingabelle (Stakes, Champions Weekend) would be a very suitable race. I had her on the list for the (Group 1) Moyglare but thought I was dreaming and took her out. We'll leave her progress away, she is a big fine filly and I think will be a nice three-year-old."
Lee told RTE:- “She was actually very good on the track but she was just a bit slow away and it took her a while to get into her stride.
“I managed to get a lovely run down the inside coming out of the dip. Chris Hayes went forward on the Aga Khan filly and I was able to get out and follow him through.
“He quickened well and I thought I was going to do well to quicken to get to him. To be fair I'd say this is a good filly, she quickened well and she won snug at the line.
“She's a lovely filly to do anything with at home, very straightforward and I just loved the way she quickened.
“She came from the breeze-ups, Brian O'Connell sold her, and in fairness they have done a great job with her. She's been very straightforward since we got her and I'd say she's a filly with a bright future.
“Once I gave her a tap I knew I was always going to get there and then I was able to win a bit snug and not be too hard on her.
“She just has a great attitude and she's a lovely filly to ride.
“The two-year-olds are just starting to come out now and that's the third one in the last week that;s won first time out.
“It's a good sign and we've hopefully got a couple more to come out over the next couple of weeks. It's going well at the moment and long may it last.”
(Additional reporting by Tom Weekes)
