Michael Graham
Eagle Spirit seals O'Brien's 172/1 treble
Eagle Spirit arrives on the scene in Naas
© Photo Healy Racing
Well-backed favourite Eagle Spirit swamped his rivals in the latter stages to land the extended mile and a quarter handicap in Naas for three-year-olds and upwards.
He gave jockey Donnacha O'Brien a treble on the card after earlier victories on Seahenge (6/1) and Music Box (7/2). The treble paid 173.25 euro for a euro.
The three-year-old son of Holy Roman Emperor held a good position in mid-division on the rail He switched to the outside approaching the two pole and was ridden for his effort inside the final quarter of a mile.
He made headway to sixth at the furlong marker and kept on strongly to arrive at the head of affairs close home. O'Brien's brother Joseph trained the winner.
He was backed from 8/1 to 9/2f. Serefeli was the horse that suffered most from Eagle Spirit's fine finish as he had to settle for second at 7/1, beaten three parts of a length. Camellia Japonica was the same distance away in third at 16/1.
Donnacha O'Brien said: "I had to bide my time but when he got out and got going he came home well."
This was O'Brien's second treble having booted his first one home in Leopardstown last year.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee