Merroir, left, takes the inside route © Photo Healy Racing
Merroir pulled it out in the extended mile and a half fillies' handicap at Ballinrobe to repeat last year's victory.
Just the four runners went to post and Merroir tracked front-running Willesee with Secret Sea settled in third.
The race unfolded on the run to the home straight.
Merroir looked in trouble as Secret Sea raced past her her into second and closed on Willesee rounding the bend.
Willesee didn't round the bend well, though, and bumped Secret Sea who was unable to get past her. This left a gap down the inner which Dylan Browne McMonagle exploited on Merroir who was ridden to the front with 150 yards to go.
She stuck to her task well on seasonal reappearance to tough it out by a length and a quarter at 5/2 from 6/4 Willesee.
This gave Joseph O'Brien a double as he was also responsible for Dark Note (2/1f) in the apprentice claimer.
Browne McMonagle said: “She’s a very hardy filly. I got caught for a bit of speed turning into the straight but when the boys drifted off the rail it gave me a bit of time to get her going. I got the momentum built up and she stuck her head down when she needed to and picked up well going to the line.
“The ground is not that quick out there, it’s lovely and safe, and she handled it well. She’s been very good to me, that’s four I’ve won on her now, and should come on plenty for that. She should have a good season ahead of her and will hopefully be heading for more black-type.”
The Stewards enquired into possible interference on the home turn and in the straight involving Secret Sea, ridden by W.J. Lee, placed third, and Willesee (GB), ridden by S. Foley, placed second, where it appeared both horses made contact numerous times. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. W.J. Lee stated that he received a bump from his inner on the bend. S. Foley stated that that his filly ran off the bend despite his best efforts to keep her straight. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards were of the opinion that while Willesee had caused interference to Secret Sea she did not improve his finishing position as a result of this interference so they made no alteration to the Judge’s placings and took no further action.
Additional reporting by Mark Nunan
