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Punchestown 2024
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Donal Murphy
Uluru leaves her rivals feeling Blue
Blue Uluru is eased close home by Gary Carroll
© Photo Healy Racing
The Ger Lyons trained Blue Uluru ran out a comfortable winner of the Mathews Agri Handicap
Successful on debut at Fairyhouse last July, the daughter of Choisir claimed a valuable Premier Nursery over the course and distance in September.
Just denied on her return to action at Dundalk last month, she was sent off a 4/1 chance today with Gary Carroll in the saddle for owners Nick Varney and Amy Vaughan King.
Settled behind the leaders in fourth, she was pushed along and powered through to lead a furlong out, quickly putting the contest to bed.
Carroll could even afford to ease the winner close home, with the well-backed 5/2 favourite (from 9/2 on-course) Oneoveryou a length and a half back in second under Shane Foley for Richard O’Brien.
Top-weight Smash Williams (8/1) completed the places, another length back in third for Kevin Manning and Jim Bolger.
Lyons said afterwards: "Timing is everything as Nick only arrived this morning from New York and I didn't even know he was coming here. He is a jeweller in New York but has a farm in Limerick and bred her as well.
"She had all her conditions right as we knew she was well, she likes fast ground, and wants five furlongs. She is maturing every time. She is a bit buzzy at the start but she is allowing him to ride her.
"She is a project and I'm hoping she will grow into a Stakes filly next year. She is not one this year. I could have waited for a three-year-old only (race) in a couple of weeks but the ground could have been gone on me.
"She did some growing from two to three and she is not finished yet. It's all about getting her black type but that will probably be when she is four."
Additional reporting by Alan Magee