The grey Mary Salome beats Tara Power © Photo Healy Racing
Billy Lee got amongst the winners on his first day back from a three-day suspension when Mary Salome (4/1) landed the Grimme Ireland Handicap.
The race went quite smoothly for the jockeys' title contender as he dropped his mount into mid-division off a generous pace. Eighth passing the three furlong marker, Lee soon made his move on the outside and the grey daughter of Zebedee struck the front a furlong out. She kept on well to score by half a length from Tara Power with Ampeson a further length and three quarters away in third.
This was Lee's third winner from seven rides this season for Newbridge trainer Andrew Kinirons, the man won brought along Sunday's Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes winner La Petite Coco in the early part of her career before that filly was bought by Team Valor to join Paddy Twomey.
Kinirons said of his winner: "She's been running well in fairness and is so honest. She's our guide at home in work, she's an unbelievable workhorse.
"She has come right this year and has strengthened up. I'm hoping now she can pop up in a decent race. She's a Listed filly in her work. She has won three for us but she is kind of an underachiever. Hopefully she is coming right and she is real sweet in herself.
"Bill gave her a lovely ride. One got away from her the last day and I don't think she got that hard of a race because he was only really riding for second. She came out of it fresh and fair play to Johnny Barry as he gave her a pop over hurdles the other morning for something different.
"Bill is great, he rides work for us for a long time and he's a great judge. He's great to have on your side. Hopefully we can help him with the shot at the title this year. We have a lot of horses left to run and hopefully he can give it a good crack."
Quotes from Michael Graham
