Flaming Sea (Billy Lee) accounts for Dawn Choir (Declan McDonogh)© Photo Healy Racing
The Khalid Abdul Rahim owned and bred Flaming Sea gained an important win when making just about all under Billy Lee in the Guinness Irish EBF Fillies Maiden at Galway.
Conor O'Dwyer 's charge attempted to put her rivals to the sword from the two pole but in the end she have to be brave to achieve victory.
Backed from 6/1 into 4/1 on track, and from bigger earlier, Flaming Sea toughed it out well to contain Dawn Choir and High Language by half a length and the same.
"It's my first festival winner and an important one for those men (the owners)," said O'Dwyer.
"I'm delighted with her. I couldn't believe this morning when she was 8/1. On the form she had — I was afraid then that the bookies knew more than I did.
"Billy gave her a super ride — he knows her from before.
"That was her ground and she stays very well.
"She's a seriously well bred mare. I don't know whether they want to go breeding with her or to get a bit of black-type, but that win was important.
"She's a fabulous big mare. I was a little bit worried about the 10Ibs, giving it to those three-year-olds, but saying that it takes getting up that hill.
"We have a few more for the owners so it was important."
The Stewards received a report from the Clerk of the Scales, P.L. Malone, regarding the failure of J.A. Heffernan, rider of Clementina (FR), placed sixth to weigh-in after this race.
Evidence was heard from the rider concerned.
Having considered the evidence, the Stewards disqualified Clementina (FR) from sixth place and cautioned J.A. Heffernan.
(TW & EM)
