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Pink Dogwood starts big season with a victory

Pink Dogwood, far sidePink Dogwood, far side
© Photo Healy Racing

Oaks favourite Pink Dogwood justified odds-on favouritism by half a length in the Listed Salsabil Stakes over a mile and a quarter at Navan.

The daughter of Camelot began to make headway for Ryan Moore at the two pole and was ridden into the lead a furlong out.

The 4/5 favourite had to be kept up to her work, though, to see off 16/1 shot Encapsulation by half a length. Tarnawa was a length and a quarter away in third at 4/1.

Aidan O'Brien said: "She was just ready to start off and you couldn't be happier with her.

"The plan was always that we would go to the Oaks and whether she will have a run or not before then I'm not sure.

"It's possible but not definite that she will go straight there.

"She's a lovely mover, she would prefer better ground I would imagine. She seems lovely.

"The horses are running respectable so far."

Paddy Power left Pink Dogwood unchanged at 5/1 favourite for the Oaks.

About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.