Pearl Of Africa (yellow, centre) gets the better of Daymoona (left) and Lily's Angel (right)© Photo Healy Racing
The Eddie Lynam trained Pearl Of Africa just held off the late surge of Daymoona (20/1), and she then survived a lengthy stewards enquiry before finally being declared the winner of the Listed Fillies Irish Stallion Farms EBF Cooley Stakes
The Pearl Bloodstock Limited owned winner has been a model of consistency this season, and she her maiden won over the course and distance back in April.
After opening at 4/1 this morning with Paddy Power, the three-year-old daughter of Jeremy was backed from 7/2 to 3/1 on-course.
Settled in mid-division by Johnny Murtagh, she was boxed in two furlongs out and had to be switched right for room.
Once she got space she came through to lead a furlong out, staying on well from there to score by a head.
The manoeuvre by the winner for room resulted in other horses colliding, and Daymoona, for Chris Hayes and Kevin Prendergast, appeared to be worst affected.
She stayed on strongly down the outside once getting a clear run, and she just failed to catch Pearl Of Africa. Lily's Angel who finished second in the Group 1 Matron Stakes on her last start, went off the even money favourite, but she could only manage third, a further three parts of a length back under Gary Carroll for Ger Lyons.
Eddie Lynam said afterwards: "You’d think your well drawn in two but when you analysis it you starting thinking will I get a run.
"Hopefully she hangs on to it, I thought she was the best horse in the race. Johnny said she was pulling up a bit in front.
"That’s her we always arrive late with her. She is out of a group one winner and she is the first horse I’ve had for the owner.
"It is nice to win a listed race with her and hopefully she’ll keep it."
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
