Lilli Milena makes it 3rd time lucky in Sligo finale

The most well-known colours in the finale at Sligo came to the fore as Moyglare Stud Farm’s Lilli Milena out-pointed Zhang Yuesheng’s Kells in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.

Well-backed 11/2 shot Next In Line ran some way below market expectations finishing with one behind, but otherwise it went reasonably close to what pre-race talk envisaged.

Second favourite at 7/2, the Dermot Weld-trained and Oisin Orr-ridden Lilli Milena beat 6/1 hope Kells by half a length, with the same distance to the ‘jolly,’ Born To Rule back in third.

Lilli Milena chased the leaders and she was a close fifth after half a mile.

Pushed along in third under two furlongs out, the successful Dansili filly stayed on well under pressure inside the final furlong to lead in the final fifty yards.

“I’d a lovely run around today and when I got to the furlong marker it all opened up and she came home strong. Hopefully she can win again,” said Orr.

R.P. Cleary, rider of Mighty Mirage trained by Thomas Cleary, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount ran too free.

(AM & EM)