Alveena (nearest) stays on best to beat Soul Searcher (inside)© Photo Healy Racing
The well-backed Alveena ended her career on a high, as she got up close home to land the last at the Curragh, the Listed Brown Panther Stakes.
Having landed the valuable Cork Derby in June, the Dermot Weld trained four-year-old was then third of four in the Group 2 Curragh Cup on her next start.
She disappointed in first time blinkers in the Guinness Handicap at the Galway Festival on her most recent outing, and she was available at 11/2 last night.
The daughter of Medicean opened on-course at 4's, but came in for continued market support, and went off an 11/4 chance with Pat Smullen in the saddle.
Settled towards rear in sixth, she was pushed along with two furlongs to go. She was ridden to challenge on the outer inside the final furlong, and stayed on best in the closing stages, getting up to score by half a length. Soul Searcher finished second but she was later demoted to third after she hampered rivals with a furlong to race.
Hibicus was promoted to second. He was hampered by Soul Searcher before kept on well inside the final furlong to take third at 14/1 (20's this morning and from 16's on-course) under Michael Hussey for Aidan O'Brien.
Dermot Weld said afterwards: "She's a very brave mare and has been winning all year for us.
"She started by winning in handicap company and was Group 2 placed.
"She came back here and got a brilliant ride to win the finale.
"That's her last run and it's job done now. She's a stakes winner and is Group 2 placed so I'm very pleased with the year."
STEWARDS REPORT
The Stewards enquired into possible interference about one furlong from the finish involving Soul Searcher, ridden by R.P. Cleary, placed second, Hibiscus ridden by M.C. Hussey, placed third and How High The Moon ridden by C. O'Donoghue, placed sixth, where it appeared that both Hibiscus and How High The Moon received interference by being taken off a straight course. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards were satisfied that Soul Searcher had improved her placing over Hibiscus by causing interference and therefore reversed the placings' of these horses with the result now to read: First - Alveena, Second - Hibiscus and third - Soul Searcher. The Stewards were of the opinion that R.P. Cleary had caused the interference by riding carelessly and therefore suspended him for 1 raceday having taken his good previous record into consideration.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
