Fields Of Athenry and Seamie Heffernan © Photo Healy Racing
Fields Of Athenry proved too hot to handle for his rivals as he completed a treble for Ballydoyle in the featured Ballyroan Stakes at Leopardstown tonight.
Seamie Heffernan was keen to get to the lead on the 8/15 shot in the Group 3 contest and set a stiff pace in the early stages.
The Galileo colt had plenty left in the closing stages of the mile-and-a-half contest, however, as he stayed on stoutly to score by a length-and-three-quarters from Edelpour
The winner was making it three wins from four starts this term and was following up victory in the Listed Challenge Stakes at the course last month.
Joseph O'Brien was representing his father Aidan afterwards and he said:-
"He's a lovely horse and stays well.
"Dad was saying that he'll more than likely go to York for either the Ebor or Voltigeur on his way to the Leger.
"He's done nothing but improve all year in fairness to him. He's a nice horse with a big engine."
Heffernan added:- "I would have been disappointed if he had been beat. An extra two furlongs might play up to his strengths again.
"I wanted to wait to get well into the straight before going for him and had hoped something would be at my boot but I didn't want to wait too long.
"He's very genuine and that's his big plus."
