Snow Queen (inside) hits the front close home from Uleavemebreathless in second© Photo Healy Racing
Jim Bolger's five year domination in the Loder EBF 2yo Fillies Race came to an end as Snow Queen justified favouritism to take the spoils under Joseph O’Brien for his father Aidan.
The daughter of Danehill Dancer had three runs to her name before today finishing fifth on her first two starts at Leopardstown before running a better race there last time out to finish just half a length second to the John Oxx trained newcomer What Style.
Given a more patient ride today she was settle towards the rear and closed from two furlongs out.
She went second and challenged from over a furlong out before staying on well under pressure to lead near the line and win by a head at the odds of 9/4 favourite.
The Andy Oliver trained newcomer Uleavemebreathless ran a cracker in defeat and may have won had she not drifted a bit left inside the final furlong.
She had to settle for second at 25/1 under Shane Foley while the John Oxx trained Shelina was a further two and a quarter lengths back in third at 10/1 under Declan McDonogh.
The Jim Bolger trained Scintillula was well backed this morning with Paddy Powers going from 9/4 into 7/4 but she was friendless on track (9/4 out to 3/1) and finished seventh under Kevin Manning.
Winning trainer Aidan O'Brien said afterwards: "We always thought she was very nice and she has lots of ability.
"That is the way to ride her, to come late as she shuts down when she gets there. Joseph felt that he got there a bit early at Leopardstown (last time out).
"The plan was to come here today and find out what was going on as she always worked very smart. She will be way better on better ground and will come back here in two weeks time for the Moyglare."
The winner is a full-sister to Carribean Sunset who won three Group 3's here for Dermot Weld before being sold on to the US where she was beaten a head into second in a Group 1 at Saratoga in August of 2009.
(On-course reporting by Gary Carson)
