Cola Blaze is pushed out by Finn Brickley© Photo Healy Racing
Cola Blaze sprang a surprise in the concluding Irish Stallion Farms EBF Auction INH Flat Race, comfortably accounting for her 10 rivals at the odds of 25/1.
Nigel Slevin provided Finn Brickley with his first track success at Tramore in August and the pair again successfully combined with this four-year-old Malinas bay.
Down the field on debut in the Tattersalls Ireland Sales Bumper at Fairyhouse in April, the Rory Slevin-owned victor was fitted with a tongue-strap for the first time today.
Settled behind the leaders on the inner, she improved into a close second shortly after halfway and soon made further progress to dispute the lead.
She established an outright advantage early in the straight and despite wandering inside the final furlong, she soon stretched clear and came home six-lengths to the good.
The Pat Foley-trained Slieve Carran (16/1) finished second under Pat Taaffe, while Stickman (33/1) was three-quarters-of-a-length back in third.
The Emmet Mullins-trained Charlie Buckett was sent off the 8/11 favourite. Pushed along approaching halfway by Patrick Mullins, the debutant was eventually pulled up and reportedly 'scoped badly' post race.
"She won a schooling race at Tipperary and we liked her so much that we bought her half-brother as a foal," Slevin revealed.
"That was prior to her running in the sales bumper where we had paid the money to enter but she ran very green in the race.
"Today wasn't a surprise, my brother owns her and bought her to race her but if there was money offered, you'd never know she could be sold. She is big enough and is a nice type."
STEWARDS REPORTS
The Raceday Stewards interviewed Miss P. Elvin, rider of Fernhill Fling concerning her use of the whip in the closing stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned who accepted that she was in breach of the regulation and apologised for her actions. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence the Raceday Stewards were satisfied that Miss P. Elvin was in breach of Regulation 10.3.g(excessive frequency) and having considered her record in this regard the Raceday Stewrads suspended Miss. P. Elvin for four racedays
Emmet Mullins, trainer of Charlie Buckett, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his charge scoped badly post race
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
