Sister Rosetta off the mark for Carroll and Lyons

Ger Lyons' Sister Rosetta put her experience to good use to get off the mark in the juvenile maiden over six furlongs in Dundalk.

Gary Carroll bounced her away well to lead from stall five and she moved sweetly into the straight as the pack began to come off the bridle.

She was ridden to go and win her race outside the furlong pole but Russian River found plenty for pressure in pursuit.

Russian River ran on strongly in the final 50 yards but Sister Rosetta held on by a short head after a photo finish.

Favourite backers were rewarded at 2/1 while Russian River was well backed down to 3/1 'second in'. Provocateuse was a couple of lengths adrift in third at 9/2.

Assistant trainer Shane Lyons said: “Her breeder Kevin Prendergast will be happy. It’s taken her a while to get her head in front but she’s been green and a bit unlucky.

“We’ll winter her well and look forward to nice ground from the spring onwards.

“She was a little bit weak and needs good ground or better. Gary said she has plenty of boot and she could even drop back to five.”

This was Sister Rosetta's sixth race having been placed three times. The form of her latest third over seven furlongs here was boosted when the runner-up (Fantasy Lady) obliged in Listed company at the Curragh.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee