Dream ride from Lee sees 79-rated filly land Listed prize

A straight line may be the shortest way home but it's still a gamble to race isolated from the rest of your rivals, but that gamble paid off handsomely for title-chasing Bill Lee on 20/1 winner Are We Dreaming in the Bord Na Mona Recycling Brigid's Pastures Stakes.

The 79-rated outsider stayed where she was from stall two and raced alone up the centre of the track as the other runners came, in varying degrees, towards the stands' side, The daughter of Kendargent disputed the lead throughout and held a narrow advantage a furlong from home before being ridden out to score decisively.

The winner edged Lee back in front of Colin Keane (81-80) in their neck-and-neck tussle to be champion jockey.

Two and a half lengths was the margin of victory over My Eyes Adore You with Emilie Gray a further half a length away in third.

Winning trainer Willie McCreery said: “It was an inspired ride by Billy. As he said he got her into a lovely rhythm and when horses get into a rhythm they go better and further than anyone else.

“She was in a lovely rhythm the whole way and he couldn’t believe he could hear sticks flailing so he sat a bit longer then.

“Hugh Hyland, God rest him, will be looking down. He was a part-owner of this filly so it will give a bit of a boost to the Oghill (House Stud) crew.”

Quotes from Alan Magee