Gallena off the mark in Ireland

A nicely-bred sort, Gallena (by Invincible Spirit out of the dual Group 3 scorer Emily Blake) cost 9,000 guineas back in July, after winning at Bath for William Haggas in October 2012, and she got off the mark in Ireland when scoring in the Crowne Plaza Of Dundalk Handicap at Dundalk.

Now sporting the silks of Mrs Maura O'Sullivan and under the tutelage of James Barrett, the three-year-old was 14/1 here but that didn't stop her from getting up close home to defeat Inishmot Duchess by a head.

Barrett commented on the Rory Cleary-ridden winner: "She ran a cracker when she was third here (five weeks ago) and she was entitled to win on that. She was only a length behind Missile Command (a 4/1 shot here and finished sixth).

"She can be a bit lazy in front but hopefully there's another one in her now." (AM & EM)