Pretty Angel beats Fight U For It and San Quentin at Dundalk© Photo Healy Racing
She may have been easy in the market on track but Pretty Angel (100/30 out to 9/2) upstaged the favourite Fight U For It (5/2 into 7/4) in the Christmas Party Packages At Dundalk Stadium Nursery Handicap.
The 'jolly' had to be ridden up to set the pace in this seven furlong contest after dwelling at the gates (his jockey Chris Hayes got a 1 day careless riding ban). He was tackled a furlong and a half out by Pretty Angel (Shane Foley) and narrowly headed from under a furlong out.
From there home the victorious Dark Angel grey found enough to prevail by three parts of a length with a length and a quarter back to the third home Represent Yourself
Michael Halford handles Pretty Angel for Singapore-owner Tay Hu Chor and he commented: "She's an honest filly and very straight-forward – she rallied well there.
"I thought the handicapper had given her a high enough mark on 72 for what she'd done.
"She was quite keen on her first few runs and she's just learning to settle.
"There's a race she could go for here on December 20th or else there'll be three-year-old races for her in January."
The Stewards enquired into possible interference in the early stages of this race involving Fight U For It, ridden by C.D. Hayes and Romantic Melody ridden by D.M. Grant. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards found C. D. Hayes in breach of Rule 214 by riding carelessly and having taken his record into account suspended him for one race day.
(AM & EM)
