Waltzing Matilda (Wayne Lordan, nearest) comes to beat Miss Gally Rio, Sherama (middle) with Intense Debate in behind© Photo Healy Racing
Fancied for her debut in today's Bulmers Live At Leopardstown Summer Racedays 2014 Fillies Maiden, Waltzing Matilda (4s into 3s on track) overcame inexperience to get the better of 66/1 shot Miss Gally Rio by a nose.
Colm O'Donoghue nearly got things exactly right from the front on Miss Gally Rio – setting a modest pace and winding things up in the straight.
Waltzing Matilda under Wayne Lordan, showed a lovely turn of foot from a furlong out and even though Miss Gally Rio and two previous outings under her belt, the winner was able to gain the day despite holding her head a little to one side.
The Ballydoyle favourite Palace came home pretty well inside the last but that was good enough for only fourth place on this occasion.
All was not lost for that team though as Mrs Paul Shanahan and Mrs John Magnier own Waltzing Matilda and her trainer Tommy Stack's son Fozzy said: "They didn't go much of a gallop and it turned into a sprint which wasn't ideal.
"She wants a mile and a quarter – she's quite nice but she's still big, raw and green. She can only improve.
"I was going to enter her in the Athasi Stakes but I thought it was a bit short for her.
"She'll probably come back here for the Guineas Trial.
"I don't think any horse wants the ground the way it is today. I was quite pleased it started raining as at least they can slop through it to some degree."
The Stewards fined T. Stack, trainer, €130 for lodging a passport in respect of Waltzing Matilda, in which the vaccinations did not conform with the provisions of Rule 91. The Stewards allowed the horse to run on receipt of the trainer's written assurance that the vaccinations were in order.
(GC & EM)
