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Alan Magee

Alan Magee

Bargain buy Elzaam Blue wins on debut

Wed 16th Feb 2022, 16:38

Elzaam Blue gets a kiss from owner Siobhan Ni CheallaighElzaam Blue gets a kiss from owner Siobhan Ni Cheallaigh
© Photo Healy Racing

Elzaam Blue proved a real bargain buy for connections when justifying good support on debut in the Find Us On Facebook @dundalkstadium Maiden.

The Darren Bunyan-trained gelding was snapped up for just 800 guineas by Philip Egan as a two-year-old at the Breeze Up Sales but has obviously had some issues since and was only making his debut here at four. Jaafel looked set to justify 13/8 favouritism when travelling sweetly to lead well over a furlong out but Billy Lee got a strong late run out of Elzaam Blue and the 5/1 chance (backed in from 7/1 just before the start) got up virtually on the line.

Macadam’s Rock was a further two and a half lengths back in third.

Billy Lee said, "My agent rang me the other day and said 'I don't have much for you but I have this lad'. To be fair to Chris Hayes he said that he works nicely and goes well and that I probably should come up and ride him. Thank God I did.

“He was very green early on, didn't know what it was all about. He only got it turning in, I just started picking them off. I said I was going to be a lovely second and he's really taken off in the last furlong and picked up well.

“He's a nice straightforward horse and he's going to improve plenty from the run, mentally wise he's going to improve and he'll be a nice horse going forward.”

(GC & AM)

About Alan Magee
Alan has worked in the racing industry for well over 30 years including with the Sporting Life, Turform and Irish Racing Services. He took up his current role as Irish Racing Team Leader with the Press Association in 2013. He has a keen interest in most sports and plays golf.