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- O'Brien's Bright Idea to have an across-the-card treble
Michael Graham
O'Brien's Bright Idea to have an across-the-card treble
Bright Idea, centre, gets up to pip Fictitious Lady, right
© Photo Healy Racing
Bright Idea got up in the final stride of the extended mile maiden at Killarney to give Joseph O'Brien an across-the-card treble.
He went off 5/6 favourite, despite an absence of 333 days, as on his last outing at the Curragh he got to within half a length of subsequent Group 3 and Group One winner Champers Elysees. Fictitious Lady and Billy Lee made a bold bid off the front and went for home in the final furlong and a half.
She soon held a few lengths advantage on Bright Idea who came under a drive from Shane Crosse.
It was only in the last 100 yards that the gap started to decrease. Bright Idea came home best as Fictitous Lady got tired and he got there.
The 'jolly' won by a head from the 3/1 runner-up. Lord Park (7/1) stayed on in third, a length further back.
Crosse said: "This lad deserved it as he is a smashing horse who hasn't got a lot of miles on the clock.
"I rode him last year, he is big and takes a while to come to himself but enjoys the juice in the ground and did it well today."
O'Brien's Max Mayhem and Vultan were successful in Roscommon.
The Stewards interviewed W.J. Lee, rider of Fictitious Lady, concerning his use of the whip in the closing stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned who accepted that he was in breach of the regulation. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence the Stewards were satisfied that W. J. Lee was in breach of Regulation 10.3.g, excessive frequency. Having considered W. J. Lee's record in this regard the Stewards suspended W. J. Lee for two racedays.
Additional reporting by Tom Weekes