Bellezza strikes on debut for Lyons & Keane

Bred by Moyglare Stud, whose owner Eva Maria Bucher-Haefner was on hand to lead her back into the winner's enclosure, Bellezza (5/2) made a winning debut in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (Fillies) Maiden.

Soon tracking the leaders in fourth, she was pushed along by Colin Keane on the approach to the straight and was ridden over a furlong out. Responding well to the champion jockey's urgings, the daughter of Siyouni picked up well to lead a hundred yards out and came home a length and a half in front of outsider Glor Tire

The Ger Lyons-trained winner holds entries in the Debutante and Moyglare Stud Stakes.

“She’s a lovely filly and a half-sister to Tough Talk that runs in the next," said Lyons

“We’ve liked her from day one and you can see she is a beautiful individual. We have just decided to take our time as much as we can. I like her as much as I like any horse in the yard.

“When I get fillies from that owner I would always like to try and win their own race. I’m hoping she’s good enough and it’s first box ticked. That’s where we hope to end up.

“She got a bit lost mid-div but Colin cuddles them and lets them find their feet. It is not all about the first day, that’s only the first step where we want to go.

“Mine will always improve. They are never away out of the yard, never on grass until they come here today. They can get stage fright or they can win like that.

“Hopefully she will improve and if she does she will be a Stakes filly. She is in the Debutante which closed yesterday but I’ll be dreaming of the Moyglare for obvious reasons.”

Quotes from Alan Magee