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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Dragon Fei rewards owner in Ulster Oaks

Sat 24th Jun 2017, 17:09

Dragon Fei, blue, in charge at Down RoyalDragon Fei, blue, in charge at Down Royal
© Photo Healy Racing

Dragon Fei forged on well in the final furlong to land the Ulster Oaks under Billy Lee.

The seven-year-old mare got her head in front inside the final furlong and put a length and a half on runner-up and front-running Cirin Toinne (12/1).

The winner was backed in from 11/2 down to 4/1. Dancing Doll completed the placings in third at 6/1.

Owner David Eiffe, from Ratoath, said: "We were going to take her out this morning (because of the ground) and then I saw Willie McCreery took his out and I said we have only to beat one to get a few pound. So I said we would take a chance.

"That's out third time trying to win this race, I think we were fifth in it last year and third in it three years ago.

"She is coming near the end of her racing days, I think we have about six weeks left as she is in foal to Dandy Man. We'll try and get a little bit of black type. She'll probably be high enough rated to say that she should.

"Last year was a disaster with her and her bloods were wrong and she just wasn't thriving. She dropped down to 78 last week so she was probably entitled to win. I didn't really have a whole lot of confidence today with the ground.

"We have her in tomorrow (at Gowran) but I'd say we will take what we got today. It will probably be faster in Gowran tomorrow. We will wait and see in the morning but she probably did have a hard race there."

Trainer Dermot McLoughlin added: "Billy said she hated it but they went quick enough for her and she had something to aim at."

About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.