O'Callaghan strikes with 1st runner for Ballylinch With the first horse he’s handled for local farm, Ballylinch Stud, Michael O’Callaghan struck in division two of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden at Gowran with Faire Croire. A homebred for the Thomastown outfit, by their stallion Make Believe, the successful three-year-old came forward beautifully from a Naas debut 11th placing back in October. She looked an exciting type here under Leigh Roche. Having had to wait to get a gap from her mid-field sit in the straight, the not-unbacked 15/2 victor quickened up well in the final furlong without Roche getting serious. Faire Croire eventually got there by a short-head and three parts of a length from Line Judge and Pirate Lass. "She is a big filly with loads of scope; I gave her one run over six furlong on heavy ground at Naas last year and we were happy enough with her run and put her away,” said O’Callaghan. "At home she has been showing she is capable of winning a maiden and maybe a little bit better than that. It would be nice to find a conditions' race with her now and step her up gradually. "She is a big filly, we won't rush her back and we’ll let her get over today. I imagine she'll be able to get black-type." (TW & EM)
