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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Letter delivers for Shanahan & O'Shea

Mon 8th Jul 2013, 18:33

Letterfromamerica comes home in front under Tadgh O'SheaLetterfromamerica comes home in front under Tadgh O'Shea
© Photo Healy Racing

Letterfromamerica sprang a 16/1 surprise as she took the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Auction Maiden under Tadgh O’Shea for Pat Shanahan. The daughter of American stallion Ghostzapper finished last of nine on her debut at Chester in May, before finishing sixth to Exogenesis at Fairyhouse last month. Those two runs were over six furlongs and stepped up in trip by a furlong this evening, she raced in second for most of the contest behind the well-backed 9/4 favourite (opened on-course at 7/2) Harlem Shake Gary Carroll kicked on aboard that Ger Lyons trained colt towards the end of the back straight and he was a few lengths clear as they turned for home. Letterfromamerica respond well to pressure though, and she got to the front two furlongs out, staying on well from there to score by two and a quarter lengths with the ‘jolly’ having to settle for second while I’vegotafeeling was a further neck back in third under Billy Lee for Charlie Swan at 6/1. Pat Shanahan said afterwards: "She finally did what I thought she was capable of. "She works seriously well at home but she had been disappointing up until now. "Her head is probably just coming right." The winner cost $30,000 US Dollars at Keeneland in September of last year and she is half-sister to London Bridge who won his last three for Jo Hughes in the UK. She is also out of a half-sister to Magical Fantasy who won four times at the highest level in America. Additional reporting by Alan Magee

1st
16/1
Tote €27.50 €4.40
2nd
2.25L
9/4Fav
€1.10
3rd
nk
6/1
€2.20
4th
1.25L
9/2
About Donal Murphy
Donal graduated from Maynooth University in 2010 with a BBS in Equine Business and since attained a diploma in Sports Journalism from Dublin Business School. He holds a variety of roles in the horse racing industry, reporting for the Press Association and p2p.ie, while also working for SIS and the Tote. From Wexford, he is a keen runner and has completed over 100 parkruns at various locations around the country.