Glass Slippers (Tom Eaves) beats Keep Busy (Ryan Moore) and Maid In India (Seamie Heffernan)© Photo Healy Racing
There was an English one two in the Group One Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes as Glass Slippers beat Keep Busy at the Curragh.
The supplemented Sonaiyla ran an excellent race for Paddy Twomey and Billy Lee to finish third, whilst Make A Challenge found himself unfavourably drawn and performed well in the circumstances to finish fifth.
Ryan Moore looked like he might get it done on the Doreen Tabor-owned and John Quinn-trained Keep Busy, when leading a furlong and a half out, but she was edged out of it by the year older Dream Ahead filly, Glass Slippers. Half a length split them.
Owned and bred by Bearstone Stud Ltd, and handled for them by Kevin Ryan, Glass Slippers was adding to her Group One success in the Prix de l’Abbaye at Longchamp last October.
“She's been a great filly for everyone involved and has been extremely good to me,” said winning rider Tom Eaves.
“It's a great training performance by Kevin, she did the same last year and seems to come right at the back end of the year. It's a great result for everyone.
“Kevin didn't rush her and we were pleased after the run at Goodwood that she was heading the right way again.”
Paddy Power go 4/1 from 6/1 about Glass Slippers for a Prix de l’Abbaye repeat.
Meanwhile Ryan later said: “She’s so tough and genuine but she has a lot of class.
“She loves it when they go really quick but the ground was tacky today so she’s done well to cope with that. I’m absolutely delighted.
“Darren Bunyan has done a marvellous job with her the last 48 hours, it’s not easy handing it over to someone else but he’s produced her in tip-top shape so I’m very thankful to the Curragh and Darren.
“It was Terry Holdcroft’s (owner of Bearstone Stud) decision to miss the Nunthorpe and give her a bit more time and he’s obviously been vindicated.
“She’s an amazing filly, so simple to train and makes my job very easy. She’ll go back for the Abbaye now.”
The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined A'Ali, trained by Simon & Ed Crisford (in GB), at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal.
(GC & EM)
