Campfire Glow Burns Brightly in Debutante

Campfire Glow held off a determined rally by favored Listen to capture the Ballygallon Stud Debutante Stakes (Ire-II) by a neck at The Curragh August 12.

Trainer Dermot Weld and jockey Pat Smullen had just arrived back in Ireland on Sunday morning from their disappointing trip to Arlington Park, where they finished last with Fleeting Shadow in the Secretariat Stakes (gr. IT).  Fleeting Shadow is owned by Dr. Ronan Lambe, who also owns Campfire Glow.

Pat Smullen kept the 2-year-old daughter of Invincible Spirit in mid-pack, as the leaders set a good pace up front.  Smullen then moved Campfire Glow up to challenge the leaders two furlongs out, and the pair took command with less than 100 yards left.

Listen, who encountered traffic problems and was last with two furlongs left to race, closed resolutely under Kieren Fallon but could only get to within a neck of the winner at the wire.

Tuscan Evening, who is still a maiden, ran a big race to finish third, 1 1/4-lengths further back.  Final time for the seven furlongs was 1:33.1.

Campfire Glow is out of the Persian Bold mare, Ski Lodge.  She was bred in Ireland by the Ski Lodge Partnership.