Bainne sweeps to the front under Colin Keane© Photo Healy Racing
Bainne was successfully claimed after she recorded her second win of the season in the opener at Gowran, the Gowran Park Fillies Claiming Race.
A winner of a similar contest at Fairyhouse in June, the Michael O'Callaghan trained six-year-old then finished fourth on her next two starts at Roscommon and Galway respectively.
The daughter of Strategic Prince was third on her most recent outing at Sligo, and she was sent off the 5/4 favourite today (was odds-on this morning).
Settled towards rear by Colin Keane, she came with her challenge on the outer with over a furlong to race, sweeping to the front inside the final 100 yards, going on to score by a length and a quarter. Zebgrey finished second under Killian Leonard for Adrian McGuinness at 11/2, while the 7/4 second favourite (11/4 this morning and from 2's on-course) Elusive Approach was a short head back in third for Jim Bolger and Kevin Manning.
O'Callaghan said afterwards: "I'd have been disappointed if she didn't win at the weight she was put in. Claimers are a good opportunity for horses that are getting a bit behind in handicaps, and I think there should be one of them every week.
"I'd imagine that she will be claimed and if we lose her we lose her.
"Colin gave her a super ride as she has to come through horses and be codded a bit. That is as quick as she wanted, and the shower earlier was a blessing."
There were nine claims for Bainne (E10,000 claiming price) and after drawing lots, Rory Browne with an address in Germany was successful.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
