Harmony Rose wins for Bill Lee© Photo Healy Racing
Harmony Rose bridged a losing gap stretching back nearly two years when putting up a gutsy performance to land the Willie Buckley Memorial Handicap at Dundalk.
The Ken Condon-trained filly landed an early season juvenile maiden at Cork and has been in the money on the majority on her 16 runs since.
The 8/1 shot made headway to lead a furlong out and kept on gamely in the closing stages under Bill Lee to beat Tai Sing Yeh by a neck with Primo Uomo just a short-head away in third.
The 5/6 favourite Mehman could never really strike a blow in this five-furlong sprint keeping on one paced in fifth.
Lee said, "She's been very consistent, she always runs her race.
"She had nice form as a two-year-old with some black-type performers. She's handy, but she has a big heart and she tries.
"I had a nice position but I was just about holding onto it. We were going a good gallop and turned in I still had a bit of ground to make up. I just felt that they came back to me slightly.
"I was holding onto a bit and didn't want to get there too soon but she battled well and kept going well to the line.
"I was coming out and telling them (connections) that Mehman would be hard to beat. Obviously, he didn't run his race but this one is all heart. I knew she would run her race.
"She has got her day and hopefully she can go in again. It gets the year off to a good start for Ken and long may it continue."
Quotes by Michael Graham
