Soldier Of Fortune Filly Draws Clear On Debut

Miss Mini Bee (4f Soldier Of Fortune - Colere Noire, by Network) shaped like a smart prospect when making a winning debut in the four-year-old fillies’ bumper at Fairyhouse on Saturday.

Pat Foley’s newcomer contested eight rivals in the two mile contest, a six-figure point-to-pointer and a short-priced favourite of Willie Mullins among them. Settled towards the back of the field by Alex Harvey, she made headway from three furlongs out and was pushed along to lead approaching the final furlong. Soon clear, she kept on well to win by five lengths.

Speaking after the race, the winning trainer revealed, “We thought a lot of her and her work at home has been very good. We're delighted to see her doing that as she's far from the finished article.”

Looking to the future, Foley continued, “I think all she'll do is improve, she's a big filly but only a frame. She has a lot of filling out to do and we won't be hard on her. We'll probably give her a run in a winners bumper and then let her off after that.”

Owned by Leonard McCormack, Miss Mini Bee is the first foal bred by J Halley out of Colere Noire, who has a two-year-old by Yeats.