Belle Image and Robbie Colgan forge clear© Photo Healy Racing
After her big run in the Tattersalls Ireland Sales Race on Irish Champions Weekend, the 2/1 favourite Belle Image got off the mark in the Foran Equine Irish EBF Auction Race.
Robbie Colgan ’s mount had to work hard to get to front-runner Rosie Bassett (14/1) but wore down that one inside the final furlong to win by two and a quarter lengths, with the winner’s stablemate Ava Gardner (20/1) back in third.
A daughter of Kodi Bear who cost 50K as a yearling and is a half-sister to two winners, Belle Image had been beaten only a short head and a neck (got 30K for third place) behind a couple of British-trained runners in that lucrative Tattersalls sponsorship at this venue a fortnight ago.
Winning trainer Sheila Lavery said: “She’s the most uncomplicated filly. She won her barrier trial and she wasn’t even ready but I’ve been dogged with shins with her.
“When she ran in the sales race she wasn’t even fully wound up for it. She was short of a gallop at least.
“We were very hopeful today and she’s a very nice prospect. You’d be looking for a Listed race with her but at this stage of her career she needs yielding ground.
“She so professional and travels so well that she could go seven furlongs. The ground will be the big deciding factor where she goes this year.”
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
