Fratas, left, beats Portreath by half a length© Photo Healy Racing
Fratas rewarded plenty of support this morning to win the Bay Leaf Handicap over an extended one mile one furlong in Ballinrobe.
From as big as 33/1 in morning trading, Fratas was returned at 4/1.
She was strongly pressed by Portreath sweeping into the home straight but held a narrow advantage for Gary Carroll with 150 yards to go.
Try as the runner-up did, he was beaten close home and gave best by half a length at 3/1.
The pair had the spoils to themselves at the business end as So Messi finished five and a-half lengths adrift in third at 16s.
Trainer Mick Mulvany said: “The horses are in good form and she worked well last week.
“She missed the break the last couple of times and we had to do a lot of practising to get her right coming out.
“She was sixth in a good maiden at Gowran Park before I got her.
“All she does really is gallops and stays. She put her head down in the last furlong and galloped to the line.
“She’s entered up for Friday night (in the Curragh), but whether she gets in is another thing.”
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
