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Donal Murphy
4 for Smullen & 3 for Weld as Sun just prevails
Pat Smullen
© Photo Healy Racing
Sierra Sun just got up in the last at Gowran, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden, to complete a 96 and a half to 1 four-timer for Pat Smullen.
Trained by Dermot Weld, who himself was completing a 39/1 treble, the daughter of Hernando was sent off the clear 4/9 favourite after she finished a good second to Circling on her debut at Fairyhouse in May.
After breaking smartly she made all this evening and was ridden from under two furlongs from home.
She was strongly pressed on her inside by Nanamour from over a furlong out but she just did enough to see off that rival by a head.
The runner-up was returned at 28/1 under Wayne Lordan for Willie McCreery while Ceylon was a further length and a half back in third.
Dermot Weld said afterwards: "That's my 70th winner of the season in Ireland (top of the leading trainers standings) and a lovely treble tonight.
"She had to be tough and battle and she got an excellent ride from Pat."
Additional reporting by Gary Carson