Red Autumn overturns debut form to land maiden success Red Autumn overturned the form of her debut run with short priced favourite Elly Bay to win the opening Irish EBF Median Sires Series Fillies Maiden at Bellewstown. Almost five-lengths behind Elly Bay when the pair made their racecourse debuts in the same race at Leopardstown last month, the Dermot Weld trained filly showed the greater improvement to notch a first success. Ben Coen was smartly into stride on the Johnny Murtagh trained Elly Bay, leading the way in the early stages. Cuban Princess chased the leader, with Chris Hayes sitting third on Red Autumn. With Cuban Princess coming under pressure entering the straight, Hayes soon went second, before taking over in front over two-furlongs out. Soon clear, Red Autumn kept on strongly inside the final furlong to beat Elly Bay by five lengths. Chris Hayes said: "I knew she would (turn around form with Elly Bay), I rode her on Friday morning and she worked like a winner. "We had five lengths to make up on Johnny's (Murtagh, Elly Bay) but she was our first two-year-old runner and that's only our third (two-year-old runner). They were always going to improve. "I didn't actually (look after her in Leopardstown) - I got stuck into her and I was a bit harder than I normally am, but it was just because she was so green. I'd say she probably goes up the Old Vic and around the sand in a daze. "I thought the way she hit the line (in Leopardstown), with normal improvement she would win one of those. I rode her on Friday morning and Fiona (Craig, Moyglare) and the boss were there and I said 'she's after working like a winner'. "I was confident I'd make up the five lengths, but I didn't think I would make up 10 lengths! I'm not sure how strong a race it was and I got a lovely tow, and it was like a piece of work to me. "I don't know where she will go next, but these colours are important to the yard so it is nice to get a win. "She will probably get a little bit further and she's bred to get further. Her attitude is good, she's very genuine. Like I said, that wasn't the strongest of lots but she can only beat what is around her. You have to go chasing black-type when they are in these colours. "The ground is gorgeous, they do a fabulous job here." Additional reporting by Michael Graham.
