Jupiter Road (nearest) and Festina Plente© Photo Healy Racing
Brothers Joseph and Donnacha O'Brien teamed up to win the Tara Stud Handicap at Bellewstown today as Jupiter Road battled gamely to fend off the challenge of Festina Plente in a tight finish.
Jupiter Road improved to lead early in the home straight but looked likely to be beaten once Festina Plente loomed alongside inside the final furlong. Festina Plente's run flattened out close home whereas Jupiter Road found more and edged ahead in the last strides for a head win.
Winning trainer Joseph O'Brien wasn't present and later brother Donnacha mentioned “Dusty (Foley, on runner-up Festina Plente) came and headed me but I just wanted to get my lad over the road (inside the final furling) and he found enough then when I asked him.”
Quotes from Alan Magee
