Sparkle just edges it in opening race thriller

Irish Champions Weekend got off to a thrilling start as Sparkle’n’joy just edged out Foxtrot Liv in a superb finish to the Ballylinch Stud Irish EBF Ingabelle Stakes at Leopardstown.

This Listed race was being run for the first time replacing a fillies maiden as the opening race on the card, and the two principals settled down to fight out a protracted duel from over a furlong out.

Shane Foley ’s mount was prominent throughout and just got the nod at the line to prevail by a head at odds of 12/1 denying a gamble on Foxtrot Liv (9/2 into 5/2 favourite). Iridessa was a length and a half back in third, while the winner’s stablemate Trethias passed the majority of the 16-runner field in the straight to finish just a half-length further away in fourth.

Winning trainer Jessica Harrington said, “That's brilliant and there is some noise in this place. I'm delighted she won that, it's brilliant for them and the yearling sales are coming up so it's very important!

"My other filly was very unlucky. She had a very wide draw and had to come round them all. She made up a lot of ground and she was also coming back a furlong.

“But don't take it away from Sparkle'n'joy as she's some tough filly. Shane said she really ground it out in the last furlong because she had to. She stuck her head out and really wanted to get there.

“Trethias was probably the most unlucky horse in it. The way she was drawn he could do nothing. I think she's very nice. She probably won't run again, we'll see as she wants a bit of nice ground, and I don't think Sparkle'n'joy will run again as she's done enough this year.

“We'll let them all relax for the winter and dream because that's what it's all about.”

(GC & AM)