Bella Estrella wins under Pat Smullen© Photo Healy Racing
"She's a nice filly and we liked her in Leopardstown and she won very well. Granted that race probably wasn't the strongest race in the world and these races don't come along very often and it helps get experience into her," said Pat Smullen after winning race two at Killarney on 2/1 favourite Bella Estrella
The High Chaparral filly followed up a Leopardstown maiden win from eight days back to make it two from two in this John J. Galvin & Son Limited Rated Race for owners Ballylinch Stud and trainer Dermot Weld.
Bella Estrella made good headway to lead a furlong and a half out. Soon ridden and strongly pressed, the three-year-old kept on well in the final furlong, and she asserted in the closing stages. Groundfrost and Jon Ess were a length and a quarter and half a length back in second and third.
"It was a bit of a question mark giving 7lbs away only eight days from her last run but we had to take our chance in that type of race. She'll go 1m2f too and is bred to go further," added Smullen.
"The objective with fillies like her is to get black-type and it's what it's all about. We'll go step by step but she'll be capable of achieving black-type at some stage."
D.E. Sheehy, rider of Ontheiflist trained by H.Rogers, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount hung left in the straight.
(TW & EM)
