Colour Blue and Billy Lee are clear from Withernsea and Declan McDonogh© Photo Healy Racing
Men in form Willie McCreery and Billy Lee took the concluding Irish Stallion Farms E.B.F. 'Sovereign Path' Handicap as 10/1 shot (from 16s and bigger earlier) Colour Blue scored a convincing win at Leopardstown.
Having raced in mid-division, Colour Blue closed on the outer two furlongs out. The mare then quickened well to lead approaching the final furlong and she soon asserted, staying on well for a three and a quarter length over Withernsea (second here last year too).
"It couldn't have worked out better," said McCreery.
"We were drawn wide and I said to Billy to sacrifice the ground as I had walked the track and the ground was way better out there.
"The two Group 1 horses came up that ground and if it was good enough for them I said we'd come up it too. Billy gave her a lovely ride and she ran all the way to the line.
"She has a bit of black-type and is in the sales at the end of the year.
"She has run in this the last two years and was a bit unlucky when fourth last year.
"It's great for Garrett and Anne Freyne and an important win for them. They've been very loyal owners."
The Stewards fined David Loughnane (in GB), trainer, €350 for lodging a passport in respect of Cornwallville in which the vaccinations did not conform with the provisions of Rule 91. The Stewards allowed the horse to run on receipt of the trainer's written assurance that the vaccinations were in order.
Gary Paul Halpin, rider of Kelinni trained by Kevin Ryan (in GB), reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount got very tired in the latter stages of this race.
(GC & EM)
