Bay Of Bengal lunged late to get up at the post in the first division of the four-year-old plus maiden at Gowran.

The Willie McCreery-trained filly went to post an 8/1 shot on her belated debut in the extended nine furlong contest. True Artist looked to have done enough from the front when leading by a couple of lengths passing the furlong pole but was chased down close home.

Billy Lee, recording his third success on the card, got a good tune from the daughter of New Bay in the closing stages as she pipped the front-runner for a short-head victory.

The winner is a half-sister to Group 3 winner Nargys.

McCreery said:- “She’s a very straight-forward and honest filly. Billy thought the little bit of an ease in the ground helped her.

“Billy said that Shane (Foley, on True Artist) robbed two lengths on him and he wasn’t going to kill her first time out to get there. She kept trying and trying.”

(Quotes by Alan Magee)