Trainer Henry De Bromhead and jockey Bill Lee, fresh off their success with the Ebor Handicap winner in August, teamed up again today to secure victory in Gowran's Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden with Marakesh (9/2), who won on her delayed debut.
The four-year-old filly, owned by Peter Fitzgerald and sired by Decorated Knight, had been scratched from her initial planned debuts at Cork on August 16 due to unsuitable ground and at the Curragh eight days later for refusing to load.
Today, Marakesh, who was well-behaved and first to load, made a strong impression by quickening clear to win by 2.5 lengths from Supreme Success.
De Bromhead and Lee had already celebrated a big win with Magical Zoe at York on August 24, and De Bromhead added to his tally with Higher Leaves' Listed race victory at Longchamp on Sunday.
Reflecting on Marakesh’s performance, Lee said: "Marakesh was very straightforward. Her previous stall issue was just an isolated incident. She travelled well, put me in a good position, and when the gap opened in the straight, she quickened up nicely and galloped strongly to the line. She won comfortably and showed a lot of promise. With a step up to a mile, there’s every chance she’ll improve further."