Jockey Leigh Roche rode out his claim in the opening Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Fillies Median Auction Maiden at Killarney today, thus scoring his 95th win on the Moyglare Stud owned Bleu Ciel Et Rouge for his employer Dermot Weld.

Roche made all on the 4/6 favourite but the pair needed to battle well in the end to hold the late challenge of Before Long by a head.

Afterwards Roche, whose first ride came on board New Phase at Leopardstown in July 2008, stated “she wasn't doing a stroke all the way up the straight but she's gutsy and there was plenty left in the tank. She's improving the whole time.”

Quotes from Alan Magee