Donnacha O'Brien rider of Christmas© Photo Healy Racing
Christmas battled back gamely to take the feature at Tipperary this evening, the Listed Coolmore Caravaggio Stakes.
Successful on his third start at Roscommon last month, the Aidan O'Brien trained son of Galileo went off a 5/2 joint-favourite this evening.
Sent straight to the front by Donnacha O'Brien (completing a double after taking the opener on Tenax , the bay colt was ridden two furlongs out, and was soon joined by fellow market leader Highland Fortune
That Fozzy Stack trained colt was ridden and briefly led from the furlong pole, however Christmas battled back to regain the lead inside the final 100 yards, going on to score by a neck.
Billy Lee was aboard the runner-up, while his stable mate Wargrave was another length and a half back in third under Chris Hayes.
The winning trainer, who was taking this race for the third year in-a-row, said afterwards: "We were delighted because they all got a little sick and he was just ready to start back. He probably got a bit tired and there probably will be plenty improvement in him.
"What you'd like about him is he put his head down and will turn into a lovely horse. He stays well and he stuck his head down."
O'Brien added: "Sergei Prokofiev (runs at the Curragh on Sunda) is well and is ready to start back again. I'm happy with him and looking forward to seeing Sergei again.
"They were all under a cloud and there was no horse wasn't. It went through the whole place and I think there wasn't one that missed it. We kept going but were gentle away through it and then we needed to get them back and started again so that's the stage we're at now."
STEWARDS REPORT
The Stewards interviewed W.J. Lee, rider of Highland Fortune (USA), 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 W.J. Lee was in breach of Regulation 10.4 in that he had failed to give his mount sufficient time to respond to the whip. Having taken his previous record into account, the Stewards suspended W.J. Lee for 1 race day.
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
