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Donal Murphy
Gamble landed as Melia gets off the mark
A picture for the mantelpiece, Damien Melia with his first winner Sretaw
© Photo Healy Racing
Damien Melia recorded his first winner as he partnered the gambled on Sretaw to victory in the Stephen Quirke Memorial Apprentice Handicap.
The nineteen-year-old from Monasterevin is based with Mick Halford and he was having just his fourth career ride aboard the Gavin Cromwell trained victor.
A 14/1 chance with Paddy Power this morning, the four-year-old daughter of Kalanisi was backed from 11/1 to 9/2 joint-favourite on-course.
She chased the leaders in the early stages and she was ridden into second under two furlongs out.
She came with her challenge a furlong and a half from home, hitting the front under a furlong out, keeping on well from there to score by a length and three parts. Iron Major finished in second at 10/1 under Ray Dawson for Eddie Lynam, while Fulminata (the other joint-favourite) was a length and a quarter back in third under Killian Hennessy.
The winner was recording her second career success this afternoon having won at Gowran on her penultimate start.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee