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Butterflies on right flight path in Gowran

Butterflies, right, beats Decisive Intent in GowranButterflies, right, beats Decisive Intent in Gowran
© Photo Healy Racing

Butterflies sprang a 16/1 shock in Gowran Park when beating even-money-favourite Winter into third in the opening fillies' maiden.

Emmet McNamara had her close to the pace in second as Decisive Intent made the most of breaking well to lead.

As the field raced into the straight, the well-backed Winter raced in fourth and improved to third a quarter of a mile out.

However, she could make on headway on Decisive Intent and Butterflies. The latter was ridden to tackle the leader a furlong from home. She was kept up to her work to beat Decisive Intent (20/1) by a length.

Winter, who had been 13/8 this morning, kept on at the same pace for third. She was three and three quarter lengths adrift of the runner-up.

Emmet McNamara said: “The step to a mile suited as she was just taken out of her comfort zone over seven. I think she will get further and it will do her confidence good.

“It looked a deep race beforehand and Declan (McDonogh) kicked off the home bend and made it a true test. She’s obviously very well-bred and is a valuable horse now.”

Successful trainer Aidan O'Brien ran three in the race - Elizabeth Browning finished fourth while Bound came in fifth.

Galileo filly Butterflies holds entries in the Group One Moyglare and Group Two Debutante Stakes.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee

1st
16/1
Tote €18.30 €4.80
2nd
1L
20/1
€7.90
3rd
3.75L
1/1Fav
€1.02
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.