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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Independence Day impresses under Lee

Sat 20th Jun 2015, 14:54

Independence Day comes home an easy winner under Billy LeeIndependence Day comes home an easy winner under Billy Lee
© Photo Healy Racing

Independence Day ran out an impressive winner of the Rainbow Communications Maiden, scoring under Billy Lee for David Wachman.

The son of Dansili was a decent fourth to subsequent Coventry Stakes runner-up Air Force Blue on his debut at the Curragh last month while the second and third (Rockaway Valley and Tonkinese) have both won since.

Sent off the 4/5 favourite today he made all and was ridden clear from a furlong out, going on to score easily by five lengths. Reckless Endeavour (9/4) finished second under Colin Keane for Ger Lyons while Anania (50/1) was two and three parts of a length back in third under Emmet McNamara for Andrew Heffernan.

Billy Lee said afterwards: "His form from his first race has worked out extremely well. We thought he was a pure five furlong horse, he has lots of speed.

"Once I gave him a kick in the belly turning in he took off. I think he could be Group class over five furlongs."

The winner holds entries in both the Group 2 Railway Stakes and the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes.

Additional reporting by Michael Graham

1st
4/5Fav
Tote €1.90 €1.02
2nd
5L
9/4
€1.10
3rd
2.75L
50/1
€5.30
4th
0.75L
14/1
About Donal Murphy
Donal graduated from Maynooth University in 2010 with a BBS in Equine Business and since attained a diploma in Sports Journalism from Dublin Business School. He holds a variety of roles in the horse racing industry, reporting for the Press Association and p2p.ie, while also working for SIS and the Tote. From Wexford, he is a keen runner and has completed over 100 parkruns at various locations around the country.