Purple and white Seamie Heffernan got the best of this tight Dundalk finish aboard Long Island Sound© Photo Healy Racing
"I was third at one stage but once he got his second wind he was away again," revealed Seamie Heffernan after he brought up a Dundalk double in the Group 3 Text Your Bet To Paddy Power on 51465 Diamond Stakes. Heffernan was aboard the Ballydoyle odds-on favourite Long Island Sound
Half-an-hour earlier Heffernan was a winner on Dont Bother Me for Niall Moran, but the game looked up for him here at stages in the straight aboard the front-running Long Island Sound.
English raider Battalion and Qatari Hunter shaped as possible winners from the quarter mile pole, but Long Island Song was tough when he needed to be. Hawke was the 'finisher,' but at the line Long Island Sound triumphed by a neck, half a length and a head from Battalion, Hawke and Qatari Hunter.
Heffernan added: "I would have preferred a lead but Aidan's are tough. I wasn't sure there was going to be enough pace so I took a gamble.
"He's a fair horse.
"I'd only be guessing (if there'll be another outing for Long Island Sound this term) but he was finishing well, so usually when they are finishing down past the winning post another run is not out of the question.
"There he just took a blow just at the wrong time and went for his wind. I was lucky enough the winning post was a bit further down and we got there. When he filled himself back up he won well."
Secretariat Stakes runner-up Long Island Sound is now three from three at Dundalk and he was wearing a first-time visor here.
Paddy Power go 50/1 first show about Long Island Sound for the Breeders Cup Classic.
(GC & EM)
