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- Ainippe powers home for another Group 3
Alan Magee
Ainippe powers home for another Group 3
Ainippe (Colin Keane) beating Majestic Queen in the Brownstown Stakes
© Photo Healy Racing
Ger Lyons' decision to step Ainippe up to seven furlongs for the first time paid off handsomely as the daughter of Captain Rio landed the Group 3 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Brownstown Stakes at Fairyhouse.
The 3/1 chance headed Majestic Queen inside the final furlong, and kept on well for Colin Keane to score by a length and a half.
Ainippe was following up a victory in the Ballyogan Stakes, also Group 3, at the Curragh last month and completed a double on the day for Lyons and Keane who were also successful with Trinity Force
The well-backed evens favourite Majestic Queen took the runner-up spot three quarters of a length ahead of Slipper Orchid and Queen Nefertiti who dead-heated for third.
Lyons said, "She's a little diamond to have in the yard. I never thought she was just a five or six furlongs horse. She has proper natural speed, and this is the first time we have had to step her up in trip.
"She was off her feet early doors but she tries her heart out and gives you everything. I brought her here to see what she would be like over the trip.
"If she stays in training next year she could step up to a mile and aim for something like the Matron Stakes. I'm not sure where she will go next, although the Group 2 Park Stakes at Doncaster could be a possibility."