McCreery and Lee double up with impressive Blazing Skies

Blazing Skies (10/3) was a revelation up in trip for the fillies' and mares' maiden at Gowran Park to bring up a double for Willie McCreery and Billy Lee.

This was her sixth outing and it represented a marked step up in trip. She travelled like a dream and, although carried wide entering the straight, eased to the front with two furlongs to go and soon moved clear.

She hit the line an impressive nine lengths clear of 7/4 favourite Engagement Ring She in turn was five and a half lengths in front of Chargo (20/1).

McCreery said: “It's great for the Irish National Stud Racing Club. I thought she might not get that trip but, in fairness, Cathal Beale told me that she was stoutly bred on the dam's side, as she's by Sea The Stars and that all played out.

“Billy gave her a lovely cool ride, I told him to give her all the confidence he could. Billy is riding with confidence and he gave it to her through the saddle.”

McCreery and Lee were also on the mark with Drummin Life in race three.

This moved Lee to within two winners of Colin Keane in the jockeys' title race (85-83).

The Stewards requested a report from W. McCreery, trainer as to the apparent improvement in form of Blazing Skies, placed first, as compared with its most recent run. W. McCreery stated that the step up in trip and the removal of its previously worn headgear is what he attributed the apparent improvement in form to. Having considered the evidence the Stewards noted the content of the report.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson