Papilio (hanging left) and Danny Gilligan with Greenland© Photo Healy Racing
Danny Gilligan had his claim reduced to 7lb following a third win today, steering the Fozzy Stack trained Papilio (5/1) to a notable success in Killarney's Irish EBF Median Sires Series Race.
The daughter of Starspangledbanner won on debut at the Curragh in May before finishing sixth in the Airlie Stud Stakes at that venue last month, and today faced Ballydoyle's well backed, once-raced 11/8 favourite Greenland in an eight runner field.
Gilligan moved Papilio past leader Greenland with 200 yards to race and while she hung left, the 16 year old rider used merely hands-and-heels in gaining a length win over the jolly.
Afterwards Stack stated “I took a chance running her in the Group 2 the other day and I always thought she needed to be running further. She was running against proper sprinters and they took her off her feet and was on her head the whole way.
“Danny was cool, I told him to sit and sit and sit and have a one pop at the Ballydoyle horse (runner-up Greenland) inside the furlong pole. He said she didn't kill herself when she got there but she is a nice filly.
“We might go for the Flame Of Tara Stakes next (at the Curragh, over a mile).”
