Experience proves key as Leblon Beach causes upset The Adrian Murray trained Leblon Beach caused a minor upset when proving too strong for a trio of better fancied rivals in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at Dundalk. Fifth on her debut at the Curragh on the first day of the Flat season, the filly finished a well beaten third over todays course and distance on her second start. Although missing the break slightly this afternoon, Colin Keane rode a patient waiting race, making full use of his mounts previous race experience. Mina Bonita, the only other runner that had already seen action, soon led under Rory Cleary. Award Ceremony and Mission Central tracked the pace, with Keane looking on back in fifth. Race favourite Mission Central was pushed along to close early in the straight but ran very green, losing all chance by veering to his left. Keane moved closer on Leblon Beach from over two furlongs out, getting upsides Mina Bonita at the furlong pole. Soon in front, the 8/1 chance found plenty on the run-in to go on to win by one-and-a-half lengths. As Mina Bonita weakened inside the final furlong, First Approach kept on nicely to finish second, with Award Ceremony back in third. Colin Keane said: "If you look at her there, she's a big enough filly. She doesn't look like a filly that has had three runs, so she has probably taken the three runs for the penny to drop. "You couldn't do anything but like her, the way she did it. You'd like her - there's a bit of size and scope about her, so a lot of positives I think. "Still even a little bit sluggish into stride for a filly that has had two runs but, when she out and raced, got to the line well and had a look. "It looked like a nice maiden beforehand and she is probably just a filly that has taken a couple of runs to come to hand. Nice to get her head in front." Additional reporting by Michael Graham.
