California Rose (left) holds off Massimo Donny (centre) with Fibril on the right© Photo Healy Racing
California Rose recorded her maiden success as she took the last race at Bellewstown this evening, the Hibernia Steel Products Handicap for 3yo's, for her trainer Pat Martin with Ben Curtis in the saddle.
The daughter of Oratorio (second winner of the evening for that sire after Scream Blue Murder took the first) put in a career best performance to finish third last time out at Navan behind Stocktons Wing and she followed up on that effort by scoring this evening at the odds of 5/1.
Having raced held up towards the rear early on, she made headway into sixth with two furlongs left to race.
She was ridden to lead a furlong and a half from home and just lasted it out to hold off the late challenge of the Paul Deegan trained Massimo Donny (14/1) by a length at the line. Fibril finished a further half a length back in third at 18/1 for Gerard O'Leary while the 3/1 favourite Sleepytimemygirl could only manage eighth for Kevin Prendergast and Declan McDonogh.
Winning trainer Pat Martin said afterwards: "She has hit a bit of form. She needs bottomless ground. She is a crotchety sort. She seemed to cope with that ground so we will keep her going as long as it keeps raining.
"She is in again on Tuesday and Fairyhouse and please God it will be on!"
(On-course reporting by Michael Graham)
