Gozen surges home to grab favourite in Punchestown

The penny dropped late for Michael O'Callaghan's newcomer Gozen who got up to nail Basil Martini in the opening juvenile fillies' maiden at Punchestown.

Basil Martini, the 5/2 favourite, broke very smartly to lead over this seven-furlong trip with Gozen keen in fourth under Leigh Roche as the field approached halfway.

Basil Martini kicked off the front coming to the final furlong, but still had Lann Cinnte in close attendance.

She had the measure of that rival in the final 100 yards, however, Gozen, who looked held in third down the centre of the track at the furlong pole, ran on strongly in the closing stages to get up on the line from the favourite who did little wrong.

The winner was returned at 7/2 having attracted plenty of overnight support and she prevailed by a short head. Joseph Murphy's Pink Sorrel (50/1) finished well to grab third, three parts of a length off the runner-up Basil Martini.

O'Callaghan said: “She's a lovely filly. I thought plenty of her at home.

“Eddie Ahern had her at the breeze-ups with a few other lads, Mark Landers is still involved in her.

“They liked her a lot, bought her back at the breeze-ups and sent her to me to see if I liked her and if I'd be interested in buying her. That's how I came to acquire her.

“She's done everything right at home, she's a big filly and was the biggest filly in the ring by a long way. Everything she does this year will be a bonus.

“She did things quite wrong in the race, she was a step slow and was plenty keen early. When he pulled her out to go and quicken she just ran around a bit out of greenness.

“He said she hit the line strong and took plenty of pulling up. I'm delighted with her and she will improve a lot.

“On her homework she's definitely a stakes filly, with some of the horses she's working with.

“First time out they can do things wrong and get themselves beaten, but she's managed to do things wrong and win. Fingers crossed she'll keep on improving and she'll get a mile in time no problem.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson