Belle Fourche and Leigh Roche (near side) beat New York City © Photo Healy Racing
Michael O’Callaghan has had a fine year with his two-year-olds and Belle Fourche (14/1) was another winner for him in that category in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.
The homebred daughter of Brazen Beau, ninth on her debut, tracked the leaders before launching a challenge racing to the final furlong.
She soon gained a narrow advantage over the front-running 4/5 favourite New York City and kept on well to defeat the market leader by a neck with Melnik (22/1) catching the eye back in third a further length and a quarter away.
Belle Fourche is the fourth maiden winner to come out of the race won by Heart To Heart at Navan earlier in the month.
“She's improved all year, as the season went on she has gotten stronger and put on a lot of condition,” said winning rider Leigh Roche.
“Today I jumped and travelled away well but she had a little blow with me a furlong down, took a heave, so she will improve again from it.
“She's a grand filly, straightforward and genuine. It's a pity that there probably aren't any races left for her to try for a bit of black-type but Michael (O'Callaghan) will make a plan for her.”
Quotes from Gary Carson
