Teofolina, white sleeves, picks up the lead at Tipperary© Photo Healy Racing
Kevin Manning on board Teofolina fended off Aegean Sky and Chris Hayes after a battle inside the final furlong of the extended mile and a half fillies’ maiden at Tipperary.
Teofolina and Aegean Sky both swept past front-runner and disappointing 4/5 favourite Purple just inside the furlong pole and settled down to contest first-placed spoils, but Teofolina always held the upper hand and won by a neck.
The Jim Bolger-trained three-year-old was returned at 6/1 having drifted markedly from 11/4 in the morning, presumably overs fears about her ability to handle the soft conditions.
The runner-up came in at 7/2 for handler Kevin Prendergast, having been 6/1 in the morning and 9/2 on opening show at the track.
Purple, with Joseph O’Brien putting up two pounds overweight, finished third of the eight runners, a further two and a quarter lengths away.
Ger Flynn, travelling head lad for Jim Bolger, said: “The key to her is to get her to relax. She stayed on well and did it really nicely. Hopefully it’s onwards and upwards.”
Again Tote punters appeared well clued in as the winner paid just over 5/2 there.
Michael Graham (on course reporting by Thomas Weekes)
