Ocean Jewel and Billy Lee with Gerry Hanratty, Kieran Lalor, Ian McCarthy and trainer Willie McCreery © Photo Healy Racing
Ocean Jewel put in a impressive performance to beat her elders when upped to an extended seven furlongs for the first time in the Group 3 Ballycorus Stakes at Leopardstown.
The three-year-old filly, also sporting a hood for the first time, tracked Agartha into the straight and jockey Billy Lee pounced a furlong and a-half out.
Ocean Jewel showed a lovely turn of foot to have her rivals in trouble at the furlong pole. She was soon ridden by Lee and kept on to see a wall of three closers off.
She passed the post a length and a-quarter up on Real Appeal (20/1) who got the judge's verdict for second.
Power Under Me and Coachello were scratched from this race leaving six horses to go to post.
This brought up a double for Lee who won the opener on Bella Blue Eyes for Paddy Twomey.
Willie McCreery said: “That's brilliant. She's a lovely filly, she's done nothing wrong and she keeps improving the whole time. That was her first time over seven and Billy said she hit the line very well.
“She's a very sharp filly and I loved the way she settled. They went a good honest pace and she quickened off it, you couldn't ask for any more really. It was lovely ground.
“The world is her oyster and we'll take our time with her.
“We can go six or seven with her. She's a very well-bred filly and it's was very important to get that Group 3. We'll try and step her up but we've got all year with her.
“It's a big weekend for Kieran (Lalor, Al Shira'aa's racing and bloodstock manager). He bought this filly a couple of years ago and he bought the second favourite for the French Oaks, Jannah Rose.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
