O'Brien strikes back on Fancy Blue After a double for Colin Keane Donnacha O’Brien brought it back to 84 plays 85, in the race to be champion jockey for 2019, as he triumphed for his father Aidan on Fancy Blue in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (Fillies) Maiden at Naas. An easy-to-back 6/1 debutant, the successful daughter of Deep Impact led close home to get the better of Chasing The Dawn (11/2 into 11/4 favourite) by half a length. A length back in third was Mazara and it was two lengths then to Siamese in fourth. For Qatar Racing Limited, Johnny Murtagh and Niall McCullagh, Siamese was backed from 20/1 into 7/1. “Anything she does this year is a bonus and I think she’ll be a lovely middle-distance filly next year. There is plenty of improvement in her fitness wise as well. She had a little blow today so I think she will improve for that," reported Donnacha O'Brien. The Stewards enquired into an incident in the straight, the first involving Fancy Blue, ridden by D. O'Brien, and Instancia, ridden by R.P. Cleary, the second involving Inside Intel, ridden by G.F. Carroll, and and Mazara, ridden by O.J. Orr. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards took no further action. At the request of the Stewards, O.J. Orr, rider of Mazara, trained by D. K. Weld, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount had to check when meeting interference about a furlong and a half from the finish. R.P. Cleary, rider of Instancia trained by J. S. Bolger, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount was slightly checked in the straight. The Stewards informed W.J. Martin, trainer that Sassy Dancer, would have to be recertified before being declared to run from stalls again. (AM & EM)
