Winning debutante Dramatise causes 50/1 upset

Trainer Joseph O'Brien registered a 1-3 in the Dandy Man Maiden at Fairyhouse today as his winner Dramatise caused a 50/1 upset on debut under Seamie Heffernan.

O'Brien's better fancied runner and eventual third King's Field (11/2f) was an unlucky loser in the race having met significant trouble in-running along the inside running rail in the home straight but winner Dramatise herself had to overcome a wide draw in 15, in scoring her length and a half success over Encantador

Trainer Joseph O'Brien later said “to be honest I was surprised. She was working nicely at home but we thought she'd be a bit green to win first time out.

“She's obviously a nice filly and we'll step her into black-type company now. She was very impressive in fairness to her.

“She's just a big filly and has taken a little bit of time. She's a fine, big, good-looking filly with a good pedigree.

“Donnacha's horse (King's Field) had nowhere to go but he'll win his maiden.”

Dramatise's owner Bob Lanigan, father of Newmarket trainer David has raced generations of the family and indeed jockey Heffernan later revealed he had ridden Dramatise's grandam Dangerous Diva to win a Curragh maiden in 1997. Heffernan said “I won on her grandam, who was a decent filly and Aidan trained her and Joseph has the pleasure of this owner (Robert Lanigan) now — she (Dramatise) bolted up.”

Quotes from Gary Carson