WHEN Velvet Appeal ran the race of her life to finish fourth in the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes last September, only the greatest pessimist could have imagined it would take until now for her to win a race. That's how events emerged but the filly finally managed to break her hoodoo at the 10th attempt in the Blackrock Maiden at Dundalk last night.

"I really thought she could have been anything," said a relieved trainer Michael Halford afterwards. "I put her in the Guineas and even entered her in the Coronation Stakes at the first stage, but she's been very disappointing.

Halford's optimism was hardly misguided considering Velvet Appeal finished the Moyglare breathing down the necks of the likes Bianca Nera and Ryafan, but he hasn't given up hope of Velvet Appeal, for whom owner Anthony Phelan paid 72,000 guineas as a yearling, achieving more.

"She still works like a good filly and having put her head in front should help her confidence. She's in the Premier Handicap at the Curragh on Derby weekend and I wouldn't rule out her running in a Listed race," Halford added. However last night's win was priceless for Phelan, brother-in-law of Classic Park's owner Seamus Burns, who plans to breed from Velvet Appeal.

Velvet Appeal was giving Willie Supple his second winner of the evening and his seventh of the season as the Listowel-born rider had earlier won the Omeath Maiden on the odds-on Be Crafty. Supple's mount was never headed in the mile contest and only had to be shaken up to beat Miss Brighton by four and half lengths.

"She'll have a little break and then go for a Listed Race. We, think a bit of her," said Declan Gillespie, saddling his third winner of the season.

A front running policy also paid double dividends for Noel Meade whose Annaelaine held the persistent challenge of Sandra Louise by a length in the handicap hurdle and for True Rock, on whom Seamus Heffernan was at his strongest to hold off Run To The Ace in the Carlingford Handicap.