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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Foley unleashes a smart prospect in Miss Mini Bee

Sat 16th Dec 2023, 16:00

Miss Mini Bee is ridden out by Alex HarveyMiss Mini Bee is ridden out by Alex Harvey
© Photo Healy Racing

Miss Mini Bee landed some nice bets on debut, as she comfortably accounted for eight rivals in the concluding Irish Stallion Farms EBF 4YO Fillies INH Flat Race.

Bought for E35,000 at the Tattersalls Derby Sale and out of a half-sister to Grade 2 winners Enrilo and Henri The Second, the Leo McCormack-owned chestnut victor was returned at 14/1 (28s early).

With Western Princess and Jody Townend soon establishing a massive lead, Alex Harvey was content to settle his mount well off the pace towards rear.

The front-runner ran out of steam in the straight, with the Pat Foley-trained victor sweeping to the front over a furlong from home, going on to register a five-length success.

Fellow debutant Discussion (22/1) ran a fine race to finish second under Finian Maguire for Charles Weld, while Knockarina (80/1) was another length-and-a-half back in third.

Sent to post the clear market leader at 1/2, El Fabienne could only manage a disappointing fifth and was the third beaten odds-on chance from the Willie Mullins yard this afternoon.

"We thought a lot of her and her work at home has been very good. We were a little bit worried coming here about inexperience as we just had one school in her," said Foley.

"We were a little bit worried about the ground as well and Alex said she only got through it and wouldn't want it any tackier. She is a winter filly though.

"I think all she'll do is improve, she's a big filly but only a frame. She should hopefully improve a good bit from this.

"I would have been disappointed if we hadn't been placed in it, I was worried about Willie's as it's hard to beat his in a bumper.

"We're delighted to see her doing that as she's far from the finished article. I think she's nice.

"She has a lot of filling out to do and we won't be hard on her. We'll probably give her a run in a winners bumper and then let her off after that.

"I'd be more thinking of next season with her, she'll be a lovely filly for next autumn and winter when we get her over hurdles."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson

About Donal Murphy
Donal graduated from Maynooth University in 2010 with a BBS in Equine Business and since attained a diploma in Sports Journalism from Dublin Business School. He holds a variety of roles in the horse racing industry, reporting for the Press Association and p2p.ie, while also working for SIS and the Tote. From Wexford, he is a keen runner and has completed over 100 parkruns at various locations around the country.