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- O'Brien & Ryan double-up with Lily Hart
Donal Murphy
O'Brien & Ryan double-up with Lily Hart
Lily Hart and Gavin Ryan
© Photo Healy Racing
Aidan O'Brien and Gavin Ryan both doubled their respective tallies for the day, as Lily Hart made the breakthrough in the five-runner Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden.
O'Brien was earlier successful with impressive Chesham winner Bedtime Story, while Ryan claimed the Ulster Oaks aboard Lady Doris
Down the field on debut at Dundalk in September, Lily Hart went off favourite on her second outing at the Curragh last month, filling the runner-up spot in the race won by Hanalia.
Expected to make the breakthrough this afternoon, the Galileo bay was sent off the 5/6 favourite in the colours of Masaaki Matsushima.
Upped in trip to a mile and a half for the first time, the market leader raced in second before improving to the front with over two furlongs to go.
She soon had matters under control and readily increased her advantage inside the final furlong, coming home six-and-a-half lengths to the good.
The Joe Murphy-trained Dark Oak (4/1) finished second, with Yes Oui Si (11/5) another nine-and-a-half lengths away in third.
"She did (travel sweetly over that new trip), she's a filly that stays very well," stable representative Chris Armstrong commented.
"She had a lovely run the last day at the Curragh and the run at two stood to her for experience.
"Gavin was very happy with her, he gave her a lovely ride. He just sat off the leader - everything worked out and he just let her creep into it from the top of the hill.
"Stamina is her forte and she is extremely genuine. She will go even further and we might have a look at the Stanerra Stakes (Group 3 over 1m6f at Naas in July) for her. She will get 1m6f for fun.
"She can travel sweetly and she stays well, and she has a chance now of getting black-type."
Additional reporting by Michael Graham