Pillow (nearest) comes to claim Aru Cha Cha © Photo Healy Racing
The Johnny Murtagh-trained Pillow got up in the last strides to claim victory in the House Of Fraser Nursery at Down Royal. Aru Cha Cha cut out the running in the seven-furlong contest and looked to have things wrapped up passing the furlong pole.
Luke Dempsey had been hard at work early in the straight on Pillow but the 2/1 favourite found top gear inside the final furlong and got up at the post for a short-head victory.
The winner has been runner-up on her first two starts and was far from disgraced when sixth in the competitive Tattersalls sales race at the Curragh last time.
"I thought the other one had got a bit of a run on me, but she kept at it well. She stayed every bit of the seven furlongs and I thought I was up at the line,” said the winning apprentice afterwards.
(Additional reporting by Michael Graham)
