Lady Sonia approaches the winning post© Photo Healy Racing
Lady Sonia stayed on best in the concluding seven-furlong handicap to give Gary Carroll an 89/1 double in Cork.
Andrew Slattery 's filly began to pick up in third with a couple of furlongs left to negotiate. Idalia soon came through to take over from Button Popper but Lady Sonia continued to close.
She wore down Idalia inside the final furlong and kept up the gallop to come in by a length at 9/1. Finvarra the 11/2 favourite, got up for second by a head from Idalia (7/1). Piper Bomb completed the placings in fourth at 14/1.
Andy Slattery said: “She’s only 15 hands but she has great heart and wants to try the whole time. The bit of rain helped.
“She was second on good to firm ground at Fairyhouse but she wants an ease. She was drawn 18 so we thought it would be hard from there but she jumped well.
“She will go to Listowel and probably somewhere before that. The lads have a stag party lined up at Listowel so she’ll go there anyway.”
Former trainer James O’Haire, an uncle of one of the Lucan-based syndicate members, bred the winner.
Carroll also took race two on the card on board 8/1 newcomer Duckett's Grove
The Stewards interviewed T.P. Madden, rider of Finvarra, concerning his use of the whip in the closing stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards were of the opinion that the rider was in breach of Regulation 10.3 (g) in that he had used his whip with the arm above shoulder height. Having taken his previous record into consideration, the Stewards suspended T.P. Madden for three race days and ordered that he attend R.A.C.E for one day's tuition on the correct use of the whip.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
