Galeola provides Lavery with much needed boost

After losing stable star Lady Kaya on Tuesday after an accident at home, Galeola provided Sheila Lavery with a much needed boost, as she ran out a good winner of the Korea Racing Authority Handicap.

Unplaced on her first three starts, the daughter of Rip Van Winkle was sent off at 20/1 this evening, on what was her debut in handicap company.

Stepping up in trip to a mile and seven for the first time, the four-year-old bay was settled behind the leaders by Robbie Colgan.

She travelled strongly and came through to lead a furlong and a half from home, keeping on well when ridden inside the final furlong, going on to prevail by a length and three parts. Malbas (9/1) was second best under Killian Leonard for Denis Hogan, while Harvest Bow (4/1), who came from well off the pace, was another length and a half way in third.

The twelve-year-old King Of Aran (16/1) ran a big race to take fourth, with the 15/8 favourite Magens Moon finishing a disappointing seventh.

Lavery said afterwards: "I'm delighted for John (winning owner) as we've had winners together but none so far apart from Danz Gift in his colours.

"We have always liked her but it has been a long road and it is only now she is starting to get race hardened fit and I thought she would like the track here.

"I'll look and see if there is more of the same for her next and there are lots of those distance races in Ireland which is great.

"She won't ever jump hurdles for me. I know I had Laid Back Luke and when he comes back I'll train him (for jumping) but this week has been so heart-breaking I couldn't take on training a national hunt horse because it'll just break your heart with injuries."

Lavery added: "Lil Grey is entered in the Albany (at Royal Ascot). A lot of my family are booked and coming over from Australia and I'll probably go with her if she gets in.

"She should get in and if she doesn't she'll run in the Railway instead."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes