Erosandpsyche (left) comes to beat Back To Brussels (centre) and Iva Batt© Photo Healy Racing
Just three went to post for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race at Tipperary but it produced a thrilling finish with Erosandpsyche edging the verdict. Iva Batt took them along in the five-furlong contest and the trio were in a line early inside the final furlong.
It boiled down to a duel between Back To Brussels and Erosandpsyche late on with Kieran Cotter's charge sticking his head out close home to secure a neck victory.
The 4/5 winner was coming into the race off the back of a fine run to finish third to Logo Hunter in Listed company at Cork.
It was a 50th Irish winner for the trainer and he said afterwards:-
"It was a nice opportunity as he is still only learning. It is really his third proper run and he needs a bit of experience. He ran into a good horse the last day but we weren't right and have improved.
"Oisin said they went a little slow early on and he took a while to warm up on the ground. He said if he was doing it again, he'd let him breeze quicker to the start. He finished strong, which is what you'd like to see.
"It is on now to the Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh on July 17."
On crutches, the trainer added "my achilles tendon snapped and was stitched back together last week so I'm telling them all my mucking out career is finished!
"It happened on a day out to the beach and just snapped as I was stepping over a wave."
(Quotes by Tom Weekes)