Petticoat (Shane Foley) beats Belle Boyd (Billy Lee)© Photo Healy Racing
"We liked her at two and she had a very good run at the Curragh but as you can see from the size of her she's a tall girl and it took her time to come to hand. I'm delighted with her," said Michael Halford after his Petticoat won off a 248 day break under Shane Foley in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden at Leopardstown.
Godolphin had three in the mix for this mile event and Shane Foley donned a red cap on Petticoat, a daughter of Cape Cross.
Another for the 'boys in blue,' Willie McCreery's Belle Boyd (3/1 favourite) was the one to get closest to Petticoat. However the winner was strongest going to the line and she triumphed by two and a quarter lengths.
"She was a bit fresh early and he took her back and got her settled. She picked up well and you'd have to be impressed," elaborated Halford.
"They were a nice bunch of fillies today and there was plenty of talk about them.
"We always thought she'd go another two furlongs and she's a smart filly. She's in the Oaks but I'm not sure if she'd go that far that quick."
(GC & EM)
