Balantina leads home 1,2 for Donnacha O'Brien Balantina led home a 1,2 for Donnacha O'Brien in the opening Tally Ho Stud Irish EBF Fillies Maiden. Making all under Oisin Murphy, the E100,000 Arqana purchase was ridden over a furlong out and found plenty for pressure in the closing stages. Returned the 7/4 favourite after finishing second on debut at Naas last month, Cape Sounion again had to settle for the runner-up berth, while Ballydoyle newcomer Beautify (5/1) was another length away in third. With Wayne Lordan aboard, Composing, another Ballydoyle debutant, came in for strong late market support and was returned a 3/1 chance (from 14s). Never threatening, the Wootton Bassett bay made late headway to finish fifth. "They are two nice fillies. At home Cape Sounion would probably work a little bit better but I think Balantina keeps a bit for herself," the winning handler remarked. "When they finish one-two you probably think you should have split them up but it's nice that they ran well anyway." Balantina had been a well-supported favourite when fourth on debut here earlier in the month and O’Brien added: "It certainly wasn’t my money anyway. She worked very nicely up the Curragh here one day and obviously someone saw her, which is why she probably went off favourite. "I thought she's run well without fancying her but obviously she's learned plenty from that and she's taken a nice step forward today. "I'll have to watch it back but on first impressions it looks like Cape Sounion might need seven, she hit a little bit of a flat spot and stayed on nicely. I'd say it's probably a good advantage to be on the stand's side as well. I think they both ran very well." On the chances of both fillies going to Ascot he said: "I'd think with Cape Sounion we probably won't. The plan was to come here and then go to the Balanchine so we'll see do we go back to a maiden now or do we stick to that plan. "I'd say there is probably a good chance that Balantina could take her chance in the Albany." STEWARDS REPORT N.M. Crosse, rider of Divine Blue, trained by John James Feane, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount stood in the gates momentarily. Additional reporting by Gary Carson
