Grace collects on debut for Lyons My Girl Grace stayed on best in the closing stages to make a winning debut, for Ger Lyons, in the ten-furlong median auction fillies' maiden at Leopardstown. Fleur De Provence went to post 5/4 favourite, but dropped away tamely after being headed by Bang Bang early in the straight. The new leader couldn’t hold the late charge of My Girl Grace as the daughter of Ghaiyyath led inside the final 100 yards for a length-and-a-quarter success under Gary Carroll. The 9/2 winner (10/1 this morning) is a half-sister to a decent handicapper in Croupier. "She is raw as hell and I told the owner 'she is going to be lovely’,” said Lyons. “I doubt she'll ever run over ten (furlongs) again after tonight. She'll be wanting further but it's a nice place to start over ten and we'll see where it gets us. “I'd say the rain that's fallen and the ground actually came in our favour. “You'd love how she went through from A to B all the way, and from the winning post to the pulling up was the most impressive part of it. “I'd say we'll be going straight to twelve (furlongs) and hopefully she's better than a maiden. "My first Ghaiyyath. Jury was out with me with the sire, but he was winning everywhere else. “This is the first one I've had and you couldn't but be positive about her. He is a lucky owner (Austin Whelan) we have. He had My Mate Alfie with us." (Quotes by John O’Riordan)
