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Punchestown 2024
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- Emilie Gray runs away with opener in Ballybrit
Michael Graham
Emilie Gray runs away with opener in Ballybrit
Emilie Gray forges clear
© Photo Healy Racing
Emilie Gray was the facile winner of the seven-furlong maiden that kicked off day two in Galway.
She went off 5/6 favourite on the back of four outings that had yielded a couple of third places, including behind subsequent Group One winner Joan Of Arc in a fillies' maiden at the Curragh in March.
She travelled in third for Colin Keane and readily swept to the front approaching the home straight.
The Dubawi filly shot clear in the final furlong to win eased down by eight and a half lengths. Prince Hector came in second at 9/1 on debut with Knight Of Malta third at 17/2.
Dermot Weld said: "She did it nicely. She handles the ground and she's a progressive filly.
“Her form was there, she's been very consistent. The trip was right, the ground was right and she delivered.
“She's from one of the best Moyglare families, she's a beautifully-bred filly and it was lovely to win with her.
“We'll look at black-type with her later in the year.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson