Perfect start for Brighter & Ten Sovereigns It was a case of first runner, first winner for Ten Sovereigns, as Brighter battled to victory in the opener at Dundalk this evening, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden. Standing at Coolmore for E17,500, the freshman sire was unbeaten in three starts as a 2yo, winning the 2019 running of the July Cup at Newmarket. Sent off an easy to back 13/8 chance, Brighter broke smartly under Ryan Moore and was always prominent. She had a good tussle with market rival and fellow newcomer Vanity Pays in the straight and while she did bump the runner-up from the furlong pole, the result remained unaltered after a stewards enquiry. Sent off the 11/8 favourite, Vanity Pays ultimately went down by just a head, while Love Ya (14/1) was half-a-length away in third, after drifting badly left from the two furlong pole. Chris Armstrong, representing winning trainer Aidan O'Brien, said: "It's great to get the stallion off the mark. "She's a fine example of the Ten Sovereigns progeny - lovely mover, great mind and has plenty of speed. "Aidan felt she was just ready to start, she will come on a tonne from this. Ryan was happy with her - she was green throughout the run, but she is going to improve a tonne. "We will probably go to the fillies' juvenile sprint at Naas in five weeks time. She is a filly to look forward to. "There is plenty of speed in the handful of them (Ten Sovereigns progeny) that we have in Ballydoyle. They are lovely horses at the moment with great minds, great movers. You'd love them at this stage." STEWARDS REPORTS * The Raceday Stewards enquired into possible interference in the closing stages involving Brighter (FR), ridden by R.L. Moore, placed first, and Vanity Pays (GB), ridden by W.J. Lee, placed second, where it appeared that interference may have occurred. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. R. L. Moore stated that his mount was green and went right. W. J. Lee stated that his mount received a small bump and became unbalanced. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Raceday Stewards were of the opinion that while Brighter had caused minor interference to Vanity Pays, it did not improve her finishing position as a result of this interference, so they made no alteration to the Judge’s placings. They were, however, of the opinion that R. L. Moore, was in breach of Rule 214 in that he had ridden carelessly and having considered his record in this regard the Raceday Stewards suspended him for two racedays. Mr. P. N. Reynolds recused himself from this enquiry. Mr. N. Chance attended this enquiry in an observatory capacity. * N.M. Crosse, rider of Love Ya, trained by W. McCreery, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount hung left. * W.J. Lee, rider of Vanity Pays (GB), trained by P. Twomey, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount received a bump inside the final furlong. Additional reporting by Michael Graham
