Camelot Filly Justifies Group 1 Entry On Debut

Be Happy (2f Camelot - Frequential, by Dansili) shaped like a bright prospect when making a winning debut in Wednesday’s fillies’ maiden at Cork.

The daughter of Camelot holds an entry in the Group 1 Fillies Mile, which saw the market send her off favourite under Wayne Lordan. Racing towards the back of the field for much of the way, she was pushed along turning for home and began to run on well approaching the final furlong. Ridden out, she finished strongly to win by a length and a quarter from Foniska (Galileo), with another half a length back to Speirling Beag (Mastercraftsman) in third.

“She's a lovely big filly,” stable representative Chris Armstrong commented after the race. “Wayne gave her a lovely ride and she's a filly to look forward to next year for some of those staying races. Probably the next step is for her to step into a Listed or Group race.”

Be Happy is owned by Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier and Westerberg, who won the previous day’s opener with similarly smart newcomer Alexandroupolis (Camelot). Connections also race Be Happy’s full-brother Hector De Maris (Camelot), who has been placed at Group level.

The pair were bred by Lynch Bages and Longfield Stud.