Champion Jockey O'Brien completes Bellewstown double

Donnacha O'Brien kept up the pressure on Jockeys' Championship leader Colin Keane with a double at Bellewstown today, completing the feat on his father Aidan O'Brien's trained South Sea Pearl in the concluding Tote (Fillies) Maiden.

The daughter of Galileo, returned the 5/4 favourite having drifted markedly late-on to over 2/1 on the exchanges, appeared to run in snatches with Joseph O'Brien resorting to the whip with five furlongs to race.

However South Sea Pearly had plenty left and in the end quickened clear of her rivals to score an easy nine lengths win over Lady Olenna

Afterwards Donnacha O’Brien, earlier successful on Jupiter Road for his brother Joseph O'Brien, said “she doesn’t do a stroke but she stays very well. She had her ears pricked for the last two furlongs.

“She’d go as far as you’d want and is still learning and still raw. Hopefully she’ll learn plenty around a track like that.”

O'Brien now trails Colin Keane, who earlier partnered Ado McGuinness' Highly Approved to win, by nine winners, 48-39.

Quotes from Alan Magee