Donal Murphy
Monastery completes Elliott treble
Monastery is ridden out by Lisa O'Neill
© Photo Healy Racing
Monastery ran out an easy winner of the bumper at Limerick, the Glenview & Rathbarry Stud Mares (Ladies Pro/Am) Flat Race, providing her trainer Gordon Elliott with a treble on the card (earlier successful with Cadeau Du Bresil and Orchard Road .
Sixth and tenth on her first two starts when trained by Pat Doyle, the daughter of Presenting ran well to finish second to Jelan on her debut for Elliott at Galway in October.
Available at 9/4 last night, she opened on-course at just 5/4, before going off the clear favourite at 11/10 in the colours of owners Gigginstown House Stud.
Settled behind the leaders by Lisa O'Neill, the winner took closer order on the approach to the straight, and was pushed along to lead with under two furlongs to race.
She soon went a couple of lengths clear, and kept up the gallop inside the final furlong, going on to score comfortable by seven lengths. Smaoineamh Alainn (10's to 8's), who attempted to make all, had to settle for second under Helen Mooney, while Sense Of Urgency was another two and three parts of a length back in third under Katie O'Farrell for Myles Sunderland at 12/1.
Gordon Elliott said afterwards: "She is a big honest, galloping mare and she'll go hurdling now."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes