A lovely shot of White Lavender and Gary Carroll© Photo Healy Racing
At odds of 33/1 White Lavender made a winning debut for Joe Murphy and Gary Carroll in the Navan Median Auction Maiden, but only just.
To the naked eye it may have looked as though Swift Flight had held on. However the photo finish showed that the successful Heeraat filly got there in time to edge it by a nose.
She may have been 'double carpet' for this near six furlong sprint. White Lavender didn’t completely go without support at bigger prices earlier though.
“She has a lot to learn yet but we think she is a good filly,” said in-form Murphy.
“She's was bred by Paul McCartan and is from a great family, she's the same family as Harry Angel so the speed is there.
“She's doing everything well at home, a little bit green, but please God she'll learn.
“She burst out of the gates, Gary got her relaxed a bit and as soon as met the rising ground she hit a different gear.
“I don't know where we'll go now, we thought she'd need the run today but seemingly she didn't.”
R.P. Whelan, rider of Keep A Promise trained by A. Oliver, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount jinked right and his saddle slipped between the 2 furlong and the 1 furlong marker.
At the request of the Stewards, C.T. Keane, rider of Thunder Rain trained by G.M.Lyons, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount was difficult in the starting stalls, was slowly away and did not respond when asked to quicken inside the closing stages of this race.
(GC & EM)
