Ballybacka Queen & Donnacha O'Brien (centre) get the better of Shadagann (right) and Unsinkable© Photo Healy Racing
Ballybacka Queen just got the better of Shadagann in what was an exciting finish to the Cork Derby.
The Pat Fahy trained four-year-old bounced back to form on her penultimate start when winning at Leopardstown.
She had no luck in running on her last start when finishing ninth in a competitive handicap at the Curragh and she was sent off at 10/1 this afternoon.
Settled in mid-division by Donnacha O'Brien she was ridden over two furlongs out.
She was second at the furlong pole and hit the front inside the final 50 yards, battling gamely to hold off the challenge of Shadagann by a head.
The runner-up was returned an 11/2 chance under Shane Foley for Mick Halford while the 4/1 favourite (from 5's) Unsinkable was a further length and three parts back in third under Colin Keane for Ger Lyons.
Pat Fahy said afterwards: "Anybody could see she was extremely unlucky at the Curragh last time. I was really worried about the ground today, and walked every bit of it. I left it up to Donnacha to mind her if she didn't travel on it.
"She will probably go for another handicap at the Curragh on Derby weekend and we'll claim the 7lb again. We can go back for a Listed or Group race after that."
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
