Keane getting great tune from Sheila
Sheilas Wish (nearside) comes through to beat Surf's Up
© Photo Healy Racing
Sheilas Wish kept her supporters and connections waiting until outing number fourteen to lose her maiden status at Wexford last time. She followed up, again under Colin Keane (the only couple of times he's ridden her) in the first split of the Goresbridge Handicap at Gowran.
The victorious Hawk Wing filly, toughed it out well in the closing stages, having come from off the pace, to beat the game Surf's Up by a convincing two lengths.
Uneasy favourite, Coach Bombay couldn't follow up his Dundalk win from Sunday. He travelled into the contest well but he couldn't raise his effort in the final quarter mile and eventually crossed the line in seventh.
John McConnell trains Sheilas Wish for Peter Commane.
The County Meath-based handler said: "He gave her a peach of a ride from fourteen (her draw).
"The penny has dropped and she'll probably go for something similar though that win will put us out of the 65 range (this was a 47 – 65 event).
"She went on the ground but she wouldn't want it any quicker." To The Sky (11th) was reported by his rider to possibly not have benefited from the step up in trip. (AM & EM)