Expectant Zamira shows real grit

Zamira was game from the front under Billy Lee, to follow up on her Roscommon win from 17 days back in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap at Tipperary. Sister Blandina looked like she might go by the John Malone-owned and Willie McCreery-trained Zamira inside the final quarter mile.

Eventual second Nanabad was briefly impeded by Sister Blandina under a furlong out. That was certainly no help to her and she eventually failed by half a length to reel in Zamira.

"She is a very tough, honest filly and Billy gave her a good ride and did everything right," was McCreery's reaction to the win.

He then reflected: "John and Ita (Malone, owners) bought her last November and she's in-foal to Exceed And Excel.

"She has just been thriving this summer - I think people rush fillies and get rid of them too early but I wouldn't mind training four or five year old fillies as they're normally tough and honest.

"We'll look for a bit of black-type and it would be great if we could get it - I'll look for a race over 1m4f/1m5f."

The Stewards interviewed W.J. Lee, rider of Zamira, concerning his use of the whip in the latter stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence the Stewards were satisfied that W.J. Lee was in breach of R10(3)(f) by using his whip with excessive frequency and therefore cautioned him having taken his previous record into consideration.

(TW & EM)