Rosscarbery (far side) just foils Emily Dickinson © Photo Healy Racing
The Group 3 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Stanerra Stakes saw 15/8 favourite Rosscarbery continue her hugely profitable season, with one well-documented exception, as she hung on to beat Emily Dickinson in a thrilling finish.
The daughter of Sea The Stars stalked the leaders before being sent on by Billy Lee a furlong and a half from home. She was two lengths to the good a furlong out but Emily Dickinson went out after her on the rail and was just a short head down at the line. Lady Hayes who fared best of three British raiders, was a further three and three quarter lengths back in third.
Rosscarbery has won five of her six starts this season and this was her second success at Group 3 level after her Munster Oaks win last month. She was, of course, disqualified from third place in the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh on her previous outing after her rider was found to have weighed in 5lb light.
Winning trainer Paddy Twomey said: “She's hardy and since she came out of the other race she's been in great form.
“We hadn't done a lot with her but she was up the front of the string cantering and bouncing off the gallop. I couldn't see any reason not to run again.
“She's got a bit of class, she's tough and she carried a penalty there. That's probably her limit, a mile-and-six is probably as far as she wants to go.
“To be fair she's won from a mile to a mile-and-six in a three month window.”
When asked if she could go to Goodwood he added:- “No, she probably deserves a bit of a chance now.
“The Prix de Royallieu on Arc weekend, over a mile-and-six, the Yorkshire Oaks and she can still run in the Blandford unpenalised, over ten furlongs. She is versatile and I've also entered her in a Group 1 in Germany over a mile-and-a-half.
“She's won on the all-weather, she's won on soft and good. She's pretty tough.”
Quotes from Gary Carson
