Pat Martin and his son Jack with Pretty Smart© Photo Healy Racing
Pretty Smart (10/1) overcame a wide draw, and running freely, to score in the six-furlong handicap at Dundalk.
At the halfway stage, she was third behind A Step Too Far and My Good Brother before improving to challenge a hard at work A Step Too Far in the final quarter of a mile.
She was ridden by Conor Hoban to take a narrow lead into the final furlong and boxed on well to repel a strong-finishing Bellick (5/1f) by a neck. Sestriere was another length and a half back in third at 12/1.
Trainer Pat Martin said: “It was a long time coming. She ran two good races in Navan and we thought the extra furlong would suit her.
“She was missing the kick a bit early on and we worked hard on that this week. It paid off tonight, from a bad draw she was able to get into a good position.
“She was a little bit free early on but she has plenty of gears. Having been racing over five and coming up to six she was probably doing a little bit more than we wanted.
“Conor was looking forward to riding her from the time he was sixth on her at Navan. He's always done a good job for me and he's a real professional.
“I wouldn't mind going back to five but Conor said if we go back to five we mightn't be able to do six again because she might get too free.
“She's versatile enough and over five she might settle in a bit.
“She's a half-sister to Aspen Belle and she has some of her characteristics, she's a bit hot but she has ability.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
