'Smart' Optionality lands some nice bets

Optionality landed some nice bets when taking the Anglesey Lodge Equine Hospital Irish EBF Maiden in good style.

Trained by Darren Bunyan, and owned by his brother Brian, the daughter of Bated Breath was available at 25/1 this morning, but opened on-course at just 8s.

She eventually drifted out to a starting price of 12s, and veered left from the stalls under Gary Carroll.

She soon improved to lead on the nearside, and extended her advantage when ridden from over a furlong out, powering home to score by four lengths. Al Batal (33/1) finished second under Robbie Downey for John McConnell, while the well-backed 13/8 favourite Ajmera (from 5/2) was another half a length back in third.

The winner, who was bought by for E32,000 as a yearling finished last on debut in the Listed Mercury Stakes at Dundalk in October.

"She's a smart little filly but she was just weak on us last year," the winning trainer said.

"Luckily enough Brian owns her and he left her alone and gave her the time she needed.

"I didn't run her in a Listed race first time out last year because I thought she was ordinary.

"She's a filly that has always shown us a lot. Fair enough it was throwing her at the deep end in a Listed race.

"She'll improve a lot for today again and she's a filly that will step back into Listed class before the end of the season.

"It's a good while since she ran and she'll come on a good bit from the run. She has a little bit of a future sprinting if she's not sold.

"She was weak last year and if you force these fillies through it doesn't work. Hopefully it's starting to pay off now.

"She wouldn't want yielding ground and wouldn't want it firm. Where it is today is just perfect for her and that extra shower just helped her I'd say. I walked the track beforehand and was more than happy with it for her."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson