Cody opens Flat account with Lady Olenna

Ray Cody saddled his first winner on the Flat as Lady Olenna ended a sequence of second places with victory in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden at Gowran Park.

The local dual-purpose trainer, previously an assistant to Ellmarie Holden and Eoin Doyle, got off the mark just last week when Razoul won a maiden hurdle at Kilbeggan and this daughter of Lope De Vega also carries the colours of Ballygallon Stud.

Colin Keane sent the 5/1 chance to the front approaching the straight, and she responded well under pressure from well over a furlong out to score by two and a half lengths.

Angel’s Amy again shaped well making it three second places from three runs, while Eria was four lengths further adrift in third.

Cody said, “She deserved it, her form was there in the book. Everything in around her has won since.

“She's in a Group 3 at Cork (Give Thanks Stakes) in the middle of August. The owners are mad keen to give her a go at a bit of black-type. That's where she'll go next.

“I think she is a filly that is getting better with racing. She's a big raw filly and I think her best days are ahead of her.”

(GC & AM)