Spirit Quartz leads them home under Shane Foley© Photo Healy Racing
The easy to back Spirit Quartz recorded his second win of the year in Ireland, as he took the Listed Kilfrush Stud Abergwaun Stakes.
Trained in the UK by Robert Cowell, the eight-year-old son of Invincible Spirit won another Listed contest at Cork in June, before finishing fifth in a Group 3 at Sandown.
He was down the field on his last start in a Group 2 at Goodwood, and having been as short as 5/1 this morning, he drifted out to a starting price of 12's.
Prominent throughout under Shane Foley, he lead with two furlongs to race, and kept on well under pressure inside the final furlong, going on to score by two and a quarter lengths. The Happy Prince (4/1) came through to take second under Seamie Heffernan for Aidan O'Brien, while the well-backed Ostatnia (25's this morning and from 9's to 7's on-course) was a neck back in third under Billy Lee for Willie McCreery.
Shane Foley said afterwards: "I was worried about the draw but he winged the gates, travelled and he was always enjoying himself.
"Robert rang me this morning and said jump and don't disappoint him. If you're in front, you're in front, and if you're getting a lead so be it. He said he was in great shape for the race. He did it well and showed plenty of pace."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
