Silky (10/1) made a winning debut in the opening Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Fillies Maiden at Clonmel today, scoring for trainer David Wachman and jockey Bill Lee.

The daughter of Montjeu missed the break but made good headway early in the home straight, striking the front a furlong out before seeing off the challenge of 2/1f Sharp Crisp Air

Afterwards Wachman stated “she's very big so we took our time with her and we were also waiting to get good ground - hopefully it's not the only time of year we'll get it.

“It's very hard for a horse to win first-time out in a place like Clonmel and she also 'jumped' a bit slow but she'll go for Group races over a mile and a half now and the likes of the Noblesse and Give Thanks are possibilities.”

By Thomas Weekes, quotes from Donal Murphy.