Just Pretending © Photo Healy Racing
Just Pretending was friendless before the off in the Slane Fillies Maiden at Navan but ran out an impressive winner none-the-less.
The Ballydoyle filly opened up at 11/10 on course but was returned 7/4 as they jumped in the mile contest.
She tracked Cocktail Hour throughout before tackling the front-runner a furlong and a half out.
The daughter of Giant's Causeway soon hit the lead and quickened clear inside the final furlong to post a four-and-a-half length victory.
The winner had been a big eye-catcher at Dundalk last month when staying on late into third.
“She's a very difficult mare. Seamie (Heffernan) rode her the last day and said to try her in a hood and it seems to have helped her,” said Joseph O'Brien afterwards.
“He also said whatever you do don't hit her. She showed today that there is a bit of ability there and hopefully she can progress. She's a very well-bred filly.”
The winner is a half-sister to the Grade 3 winner in the US called The Leopard, who cost $2,500,000 as a two-year-old.
(Additional reporting by Alan Magee)
