Diamond Necklace delights connections with winning start Following on from their success in the previous race with Mission Central, Ballydoyle doubled up at the Curragh when registering a one two in the Grand Hotel Malahide Irish EBF Fillies Juvenile Race led home by Diamond Necklace. Wayne Lordan (2-day careless riding ban) was on newcomer Diamond Necklace (9/1) and she beat her stable companion, Ryan Moore's mount, the experienced Minerva (5/1) by a length and a half. Aidan O'Brien's son Donnacha supplied the third placer, outsider Lookingforarainbow (28/1), and she ended up a length and three parts back. Favourite Justicar didn't come up to expectations, beating just three home in seventh place. “She’s a lovely filly with a great pedigree. Her dad didn’t win a maiden for another three weeks so that’s St Mark’s Basilica for you. He went on to win the Dewhurst and how he improved from two to three was incredible," stated winning trainer Aidan O'Brien. “She could end up being one for the Fillies Mile with maybe a run or two in between. She’s going to be lovely next year.” The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Justiciar, trained by G.M.Lyons, at the request of the Raceday Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal. The Raceday Stewards enquired into an incident inside the two furlong marker involving Yellowstone Lake (FR), ridden by C.D. Hayes, placed fourth, and Diamond Necklace, ridden by W.M. Lordan, placed fist, where it appeared interference may have occurred. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. C.D. Hayes stated that at the two furlong pole his mount was hanging left as Diamond Necklace passed and he received minimal contact. W.M. Lordan stated that his mount rolled out away from the horse on his inside and ended up on top of Yellowstone Lake. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Raceday Stewards found W.M. Lordan was in breach of Rule 214 in that he had ridden carelessly, and having considered his clean record in this regard the Raceday Stewards suspended him for two racedays. (AM & EM)
