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Gary Carson

Gary Carson

Belle makes winning debut for Lavery

Fri 22nd Dec 2023, 16:46

Salah Belle and Robbie Colgan win Salah Belle and Robbie Colgan win
© Photo Healy Racing

Sheila Lavery's Salah Belle sprang a 33/1 shock when making a winning debut in the opening six-furlong maiden at Dundalk.

The daughter of Calyx was held up behind the leaders by Robbie Colgan before coming between horses to challenge a furlong from home.

She grabbed the lead in the final 150 yards and kept on strongly in the closing stages to post a cosy three-parts-of-a-length win over the fast finishing Hemight

Salah Belle is a half-sister to Listed winner Bellosa.

Lavery said: "She's a filly that had a little setback in the spring, but I'm just delighted with her.

"She just wants to please, a great attitude.

"She is small and speedy, and I think there is more to come because I don't think she even knew that she has had a race.

"I'll just see now as she has not had a break, so she might have a break and then I'll look at the programme.

"She's a six-furlong filly.

"She has a bit of filling out to do and I think she is going to grow a little bit, not a huge amount.

"She won on pure ability."

(Quotes by Michael Graham)

1st
33/1
Tote €39.40 €10.40
2nd
0.75L
12/1
€4.60
3rd
nk
4/1Fav
€1.60
4th
1.5L
6/1
About Gary Carson
Gary started out as a trainee/assistant journalist with the Sporting Life newspaper and has worked in the racing industry for over 25 years. He has been with the Press Association since 2013 and won the Irish Field Nap Table in 2016. He enjoys working with horses and trained his own horse, Mamaslittlestar, to win a point-to-point in 2019.