Bridge proves game winner of Polonia Stakes

The Ger Lyons-trained Sacred Bridge stuck her neck out gamely to land the Listed Polonia Stakes at Cork this evening.

Colin Keane was always prominent towards the near side on the Bated Breath filly who was a solid 5/6 favourite in the five-and-a-half furlong contest.

The champion jockey sent his mount into a narrow lead a furlong-and-a-half from home and she answered every call inside the final furlong. Ladies Church pressed hard in the closing stages but was held by neck at the line by the Juddmonte filly.

Assistant Shane Lyons said:- "She is very honest and Colin said she got lonely and would have loved a lead.

“He had to do it all on his own and and there was more speed on the far side as it turned out. The ground walks good but rode very slow for her.

"We'll go home and digest everything - she is in all the big races, the Group 2 Sandy Lane at Haydock and the Commonwealth (at Royal Ascot) but we'll talk to Barry (Mahon, racing manager) and the team.

"She'll improve in a better class of race when she'll get plenty of pace. She'll still have to improve on that running but it was nice to win a race like today's."

(Quotes by Tom Weekes)