Footstepsinthesand Filly Provides O’Brien With First Win

Flower Garland (3f Footstepsinthesand - Beach Of Falesa, by Dylan Thomas) provided Donnacha O’Brien with his first winner as a trainer when justifying favoritism in Friday’s Fillies Maiden at Dundalk.

Anne-Marie O’Brien’s homebred had finished a close second over course and distance of a mile last month and was reunited with Gavin Ryan on her latest start. After vying for the lead, she settled in third and was driven to regain the advantage from the furlong pole. Soon in command, she won by six lengths with ease.

Speaking after the race, dual champion jockey O’Brien said, “She did it well. I have a few nice horses and it's nice to get the first one out of the way.” Flower Garland comes from a family the young trainer knows well, having ridden her full-sister Isotope to win, while brother Joseph and sister Sarah both won aboard their dam Beach Of Falesa (Dylan Thomas).