State Of Joy, white with black cap and red star, shades the verdict© Photo Healy Racing
Joseph O'Brien's State Of Joy won a sustained battle with Reponse Finale in the Irish EBF Auction Series Filles Maiden over seven furlongs in Down Royal.
Dylan Browne McMonagle 's mount made headway out wide and came with her challenge inside the final furlong.
Both her and Reponse Finale had the spoils between them as they were locked together in the closing stages. A photograph had to separate them with State Of Joy getting the verdict by a short head at 9/2 from the 22/1 runner-up. Wonderfulwonderful was another three-and-a-half-lengths adrift in third at 5/1.
Stable representative Sean Corby said: "She came on a lot from her first run. She's a big filly and the run just brought her forward.
"She handled the ease in the ground today. That might have just helped her a bit.
"The draw wasn't ideal, so she probably did well to win in fairness because she was caught wide most of the way.
"She battled well and still rolled around a little bit, so you would imagine there should hopefully be another little bit of improvement."
