Apiary deservedly makes the breakthrough in Dundalk opener Placed on her last three starts, Apiary deservedly made the breakthrough in the opener at Dundalk this evening, the Irishinjuredjockeys.com Claiming Race for three-year-olds. Beaten by just a nose and three-quarters of a length over the course and distance on her latest start, the Kevin Coleman-trained bay was expected to deliver today and was returned the 11/10 favourite (touched 9/4 early). Settled behind the leaders by Julian Pietropaolo, the 64-rated victor was angled out to challenge with a furlong and a half to go. In front from the furlong pole, she soon extended her advantage when ridden and came home a length-and-a-half to the good for owners Harry Redknapp, Brian Sheerin, Noel Hayes and Kim Coleman. The easy-to-back Pliny (7/1 from 7/4 early) finished second under Colin Keane for Noel Meade, while the front-running Princess Sioux (9/2) was another length-and-three-quarters back in third. "She deserved that. Looked fairly solid on paper," the winning trainer reflected. "Julian is down in Joseph's (O'Brien) and he does a bit for me, so I put him back on today - he was supposed to ride her before. "She doesn't do a whole pile at the races, she just does enough. "She was unlucky the last couple of times, she got too far back and met a bit of trouble. She was probably unlucky not to win before this. "It is hard in Dundalk because the racing is all about pace, and a lot of the times the boys slow it up and it ends up in a sprint. You need a horse that travels and is handy. "I think Harry (Redknapp) had a good few quid on her today at that price, and I hope he did anyway! "He doesn't have much interest in the Flat horses, and I won't annoy him this week either! He wants jumpers and I don't want them! "This one, she might be moved on after today." No claims were made in the aftermath. Additional reporting by Michael Graham
