Surreal gives Foley perfect birthday present Surreal proved too strong for her rivals as she made every yard to collect in the seven-furlong fillies maiden at Gowran Park. Gary Carroll bounced out in front on the Shamardal filly and she had her rivals hard at work entering the straight. Jane Foley's charge keep on strongly at the head of affairs, as Pastiches tried to throw down a challenge, and she was well on top in the closing stages, recording a cosy four-and-a-quarter length victory. The 3/1 winner was not scoring out of turn having been placed in five maidens previously, including when just nabbed late on at Wexford last time. It was a perfect present for Leighlinbridge handler Foley, who was celebrating her 38th birthday today:- “That was great and I've been a long time waiting for it. We'll go for a handicap next – I've no plans where. We'll see how she is in the morning.” Foley, who trains the winner for her husband Joe, also added that it was “her third winner and first of 2013.” A competitive betting heat saw Pastiches eventually go off 11/4 favourite after herself, the winner, and third-placed Fluminata had been 3/1 co-favourites in the market at one stage. (Additional reporting by Donal Murphy)
