Billy Lee and Willie McCreery pictured with Up Helly Aa© Photo Healy Racing
Up Helly Aa rounded off a memorable Bank Holiday Monday at Gowran for Willie McCreery and Billy Lee, as he ran out a good winner of the concluding Pharmacist-Led Care At Kissane's Pharmacy (C & G) Maiden.
Earlier successful with Arabeska and Come September Up Helly Aa was completing a near 60/1 treble for McCreery and Lee.
Out of Group 1 winner Fiesolana, who provided the aforementioned duo with their first success at the highest level, Up Helly Aa ran a cracker to finish second on debut at Cork last month.
Expected to go one place better this afternoon, the son of Galileo was sent off the clear 4/6 favourite in the colours of Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd.
Settled in the mid-division, the bay victor took closer order from early in the straight and led from the furlong pole, staying on powerfully from there to score by four and a quarter lengths. Globe Theatre (5/1), in first time cheekpieces, finished second under Donnacha O'Brien for his father Aidan, while Formal Order (16s to 10s) was another two and a quarter lengths back in third for Johnny Murtagh and Shane Foley.
"I would rather he had run in the first race and taken the pressure off as he was the one I was expecting to win today," said McCreery.
"The other two were bonuses, well Arabeska I thought would win also.
"He's a smashing colt and I'm very lucky to have him. He did everything lovely and he's still a work in progress.
"He's still asleep in his work and in his race there. I loved the way he quickened up there inside the last furlong or so.
"We'll talk to the owners and let them decide. I'd love to go to a winners race, or something like that, to give him a bit more education. He's still a baby and he won't be out quick.
"The next maiden wasn't till Cork and in case it was firm I said we'd come here.
"We'll work from here and I think we'll stick to a mile-and-two because the way he quickened up there he still has a bit of his mother's pace.
"He's the first foal out of Fiesolana and his sister by Dubawi, called Innervisions, will hopefully be running in the next three or four weeks.
"He's a gorgeous horse and it great to have horses like that in the yard. It keeps the dream alive.
"I had a treble in Tipperary a few years ago."
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
