Search
Punchestown 2024
Punchestown 2024
- irishracing.com
- Punchestown
- News
- Minding leads home O'Brien 1, 2, 3
Donal Murphy
Minding leads home O'Brien 1, 2, 3
Minding (purple cap) comes through to beat Ballydoyle
© Photo Healy Racing
Minding led home an Aidan O'Brien 1, 2, 3 in Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes as she reserved Debutante form with the favourite Ballydoyle
Second to Tanaza on her debut at Leopardstown in June she won on her next start at the Foxrock venue before finishing two lengths second to Ballydoyle in Debutante.
Available at 11/1 this morning she opened on-course at 8/1 before going off a 15/2 under Seamie Heffernan.
Settled behind the front-running Ballydoyle the winner was ridden to challenge inside the final furlong and she hit the front inside the final 100 yards, keeping on well from there to score by three parts of a length.
Ballydoyle, who was returned a 6/5 chance, had to settle for second under Joseph O'Brien while Alice Springs (20/1) was half a length back in third under Michael Hussey.
Aidan O'Brien said afterwards: "We always thought Joseph's filly was very good but we weren't sure about the ground as she's a beautiful mover. She ran a very good race.
"We knew Seamie's filly would handle it as her dam handled it well. It was always a possibility it would happen as we thought she had improved and she did. She got the trip well.
"I'm delighted with all three fillies. Seamie gave his a lovely patient ride, Joseph rolled along and Michael gave his a lovely ride also.
"The winner could be there for the Fillies Mile or something like that. She's had a break so hopefully will see out the rest of the year.
"We let Ballydoyle take her chance on the ground so we would know for next year if she handles it. She didn't run badly and the winner is a good filly.
"The third filly looked very good winning here first time and then was a little keen. We knew when she started to do things right she'd come into it."
Seamie Heffernan added: "She is a lovely filly, straightforward and I was going easy all the way. The ground probably brought her into it.
"It's a funny game, if I was given the choice I wouldn't have ridden the winner.
"Joseph was travelling very strong but my filly was a bit more relaxed and I finished out a little bit better than he did plus the ground might have been a factor."
Additional reporting by Gary Carson