Lovelier takes Listed step in her stride

Aidan O'Brien's Lovelier a full sister to multiple Group One winner Winter, shed her maiden tag with victory in the Listed Cairn Rouge Stakes at Killarney.

She had two unplaced runs in maiden company, but did finish well for fifth over seven furlongs in Gowran Park last month.

This contest was over a mile and she was ridden at the two pole with plenty on her plate.

She made good headway between horses, though, to move into third with a furlong to go and kept finding to get up in the closing stages.

It was 10/3 favourite Celestial Object that she collared and beat by a length at 11/1 from 14/1. Kassaba completed the placings at 13/2.

Jockey Wayne Lordan said: "She is a nice filly and had been working well. She ran well in Gowran for Seamie (Heffernan) and he came back in and said he liked her. I think he was further back that day than he wanted, but today I travelled around well and she stuck at it well.

"She is a very easy ride and doesn't waste any energy, and you can put her where you want. That was a nice performance and she might step forward again."

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes