Roca Rojo comes home clear in Killarney© Photo Healy Racing
Unraced Roca Rojo was backed through the day from 20/1 to 15/2 and her supporters must have been impressed with the manner of her victory in the extended mile maiden for three-year-old fillies in Killarney.
She was second last swinging in with three and a half furlongs to go as Declan McDonogh niggled her along. She really got into her stride though with two and a half to go and once switched out she readily took over the lead with a furlong and a half to race.
A couple of cracks were administered inside the furlong pole and she quickened up impressively to open her account by seven and a half lengths at 8/1. The daughter of Strategic Prince sported a hood on this first racecourse appearance. Love Rosie (4/1) landed the race for second while Ciel Etoile (20/1) finished third.
Handler Adrian McGuinness said: "She's a decent filly and is a half-sister to Roca Tumu [won Britannia Handicap for Joanna Morgan at Royal Ascot in 2013].
"She came out of Joanna's and she did a lot of the work with her. I only got her at the end of February.
"She worked one day with Bubbly Bellini at Leopardstown and we knew we had a good one. She has a little hotness which is why we put the hood on her, and she was very green and novicey up the straight. She did it easy.
"I don't know where we'll go next but I'd like to get some black type with her."
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
