Collage follows-up on promise of debut The Willie McCreery-trained Collage just held on in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden. Beaten by just a head on debut at Gowran last month, the Churchill bay was sent off an 11/4 chance this evening, racing in the colours of Clipper Logistics Group Ltd. Settled in mid-division on the outer by Billy Lee, she took closer order on the approach to the straight and was ridden to the front over a furlong from home. Soon pressed by Golden Spangle, she was all out at the line to hold on by a short head. The Jim Bolger-trained runner-up was returned at 13/2 (from 16s early), while City Exile (8/1) was just three-parts of a length away in third. The 7/4 favourite (from 10/3 early) was Not Forgotten, but he could only manage a disappointing eighth. "In fairness the track here is beautiful, it is lovely good ground and she loved it," McCreery commented. "She travelled a bit wide. Billy thought she quickened up really nicely to go and win the race and was very green when she hit the front. Billy said to come back for an easy seven-furlongs somewhere. "It was a lovely run in Gowran and she has sharpened up a lot since then. "It is great to get a first win for Clipper Logistics." Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
