Only By Night comes home a clear cut winner under Derek O'Connor© Photo Healy Racing
"I think she is a bit special", were the words of Derek O'Connor after he guided Only By Night to victory in the concluding Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race.
Completing a double for Gavin Cromwell, who earlier struck with Ask Anything the Affinisea five-year-old won a point-to-point at Lingstown for Garrett Murphy before changing hands for 110,000 pounds.
Third in a bumper at Warwick in February on her sole start for Jonjo O'Neill, she was sent off favourite this afternoon and was returned at 9/4 (drifted from 6/4).
Always towards the head of affairs, the market leader gained an outright advantage early in the straight and never came off the bridle, stretching clear in the closing stages to score by eight-and-a-half lengths.
Returned at 12/1, Ufouria filled the runner-up spot, while the easy-to-back Ma Belle Etoile (5/2 from 5/4 early) was another nine lengths back in third.
"Gavin, Keith (Donoghue) and Sean (Flanagan) spoke highly of her and she is a smasher who could be black-type," O'Connor enthused.
"She handled the ground, ran through the line very easy and is quite exciting. She is a big scopey mare who had won a point-to-point and isn't it lovely she has been given time.
"Next spring I think she could be lovely in black-type mares' bumpers."
The winner was rounding off an excellent afternoon for punters at Limerick, with all but one race won by the favourite.
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
