Alan Magee
Catherine Of Siena gains winning bracket at Dundalk
Catherine Of Siena (Seamie Heffernan) wins in good style
© Photo Healy Racing
Catherine Of Siena opened her account at the sixth attempt when making all under Seamie Heffernan in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race at Dundalk.
The Kevin Coleman-trained filly was certainly not winning out of turn having been placed on her previous three outings including when runner-up to Queen Maedbh here last week.
Heffernan brought her wide in the straight and she stretched clear inside the final furlong to score by five lengths at odds of 9/4.
Captain Guarantee kept on at one pace to take second spot while 8/11 favourite Las Cuatro could find no extra from over a furlong out a further two and three-quarter lengths back in third.
Coleman said, “We thought a lot of her early on and she had a good run the first day in the Curragh. She then ran terrible in Naas but was very distressed after.
“She has never been out of the money since behind some good horses. I was surprised she was beaten the last day but Joseph’s (Queen Maedbh) may be okay.
“We thought she would win a maiden but we didn’t think it would take this long. She handles any surface and hopefully she will be sold as I own a part of her.”
Heffernan said, "Kevin told me she would win tonight. She has been running well and Kevin was very complimentary about the filly tonight. He said 'leave her at it and she'll win'.
"She had a good run (last week) and she has handled the surface and bounced back. There's plenty of her there (size), so I think she will improve."