Fort Del Oro and Billy Lee © Photo Healy Racing
After finishing second on her debut over the course and distance last month Fort Del Oro went one place better today as she ran out an easy winner of the TRM Excellence In Equine Nutrition Maiden.
Trained by Eddie Lynam and ridden by Billy Lee the daughter of Lope De Vega was sent off the 7/4 favourite (touched 2/1 on-course) in the colours of Ballylinch Stud.
Settled behind the leaders she was fifth halfway. She came with her challenge between horses a furlong and a half out and she soon led, keeping on well under pressure inside the final furlong to score by four and a quarter lengths. Creggs Pipes who was prominent throughout, finished second under Declan McDonogh for Andy Slattery at 20/1 while Knockmaole Boy (8/1) was a further four and a half lengths back in third under Wayne Lordan for Tommy Stack. Compass Hill who was the 6/4 favourite with Paddy Power last night, finished a disappointing ninth having drifted out to 7/2 on-course.
Eddie Lynam said afterwards: "She did it well. We like her and think she might be good. She did that well today after a good first run.
"We'll see what sort of a mark she gets and that will tell us where we are going. Dreaming allowed, she could be good."
The winner cost 50,000 guineas as a yearling and she is out of five-time winner Gilded who won the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2006.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
