Majestic Queen (nearest) is driven out by Pat Smullen to beat Joyeuse © Photo Healy Racing
Majestic Queen over turned the odds-on favourite Joyeuse as she took the feature race at Leopardstown this evening, the Group Three Ballyogan Stakes, scoring under Pat Smullen (completing a double after winning the second on Tombelaine for Tracey Collins.
The four-year-old daughter of Kheleyf was last seen finishing third of eight in a valuable fillies handicap at Ascot last month, winning a match race at Dundalk the time before that.
Running in Group Three company for the first time she was backed on-course from 12's into 8's. Body Beautiful had the eight runner field well strung out from the four furlong pole with the winner sitting in second.
She came under pressure shortly after entering the straight, reeling in Body Beautiful and hitting the front just over a furlong out.
She kept up the gallop inside the final furlong and went on to score comfortably by two and a half lengths.
Joyeuse (8/13f), who raced towards the rear, couldn’t peg back the winner inside the final furlong and she had to settle for second under James Doyle for Jane Cecil, while Sparrow (8/1) was a neck back in third for Aidan and Joseph O’Brien.
Tracey Collins said afterwards: "I'm delighted. Pat gave her a beautiful ride with the way the race panned out and the horse going off in front suited.
"We've always thought a lot of her and thankfully tonight she produced what we've thought.
"That kind of throws the fillies handicap out on Derby Day! She could go now for the Brownstown Stakes on July 2nd.
"She was entered a few places but we thought this was the best option and thankfully the ground came right for her during the week.
"Her run in Ascot was very good on ground she didn't like. She's a beautiful filly and bred in the purple so it's job done tonight getting the black-type.
"She's a classy filly and hopefully she can go on from here."
STEWARDS REPORT
The Stewards interviewed James Doyle, rider of Joyeuse (GB), placed second, regarding his riding of this filly.
Evidence was heard from the rider concerned. James Doyle stated that he was hoping to get his filly to settle, so that she could finish out her race well and so he dropped her out.
Turning in he thought he was still going well enough to win and after getting her balanced and organised he went about winning his race but she failed to pick up like he had anticipated.
At the line he stated he was struggling to hold onto second place. He was of the opinion a flat track and slower ground may be his filly's preferable conditions and if he was to bounce his filly out and be handy she could get lit up surrounded by horses and not get home.
Having viewed the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards noted the explanations of the rider.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
