Create Belief (Ben Coen) beats Holly Golightly (Colin Keane)© Photo Healy Racing
In the colours of Grand National runner-up, Balko Des Flos, the RacehorseClub enjoyed a Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas Day success at the Curragh courtesy of Create Belief in the Betway Spring Fillies Handicap.
Trainer Johnny Murtagh and jockey Ben Coen were bouncing back after a disappointment half-an-hour earlier in the Group Two with Champers Elysees That market-leader could manage only fourth place.
Create Belief, the 7/2 favourite (from 9/2 on the show, and bigger earlier) entered handicap company seamlessly, from an opening mark of 87.
A daughter of Awtaad, hero of this day back in 2016, Create Belief was confidently handled by Coen, ridden to lead a furlong out, keeping on well and asserting in the closing stages to defeat Holly Golightly by a length.
“She ran well in Navan but probably didn't stay so we thought about coming back here,” said Murtagh.
“She probably likes the ground too so it was a combination of the soft ground and back to a mile.
“She could sneak up in the ratings, that was a nice race for her, and she's a big girl so hopefully she could get black-type later on.”
On Champers Elysees: he reflected:- “I was disappointed, the last half a furlong especially, she just tired when I thought she was coming.
“The winner got a good ride, got away in front, and if she had been second.....
“She's just not there yet I don't think. The weather is not kind at the moment, she likes the field and it has been very wet so she hasn't been out in the field yet.
“I wouldn't give up on her yet. I still think there is more to come. She handled soft ground last year but her best performance was on fast ground and she just got a bit stuck in it today.
“That's the joys of racing, up and down!”
R.P. Whelan, rider of Maar trained by Adrian McGuinness, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount stopped quickly.
(GC & EM)
