Extensio and Sylvia O Donnell win the Kildare Village Ladies Derby © Photo Healy Racing
The O'Donnell family from Kilmallock had a day they will never forget with Extensio landing the Kildare Village Ladies Derby Handicap at the Curragh.
Ridden by young Sylvia(O'Donnell) and trained by her father Pat, the five-year-old gelding is also owned by the family.
As if all of that wasn't enough, the win was also a first under rules for the jockey.
Settled behind clear leader Dartington for much of the contest, Sylvia O'Donnell produced Extensio travelling well early in the straight and the pair soon had the front-runner in their sights.
However, no sooner had they got to the Gordon Elliott trained horse, then they faced challenges on either side from Pachmena and Derry Lad Today was a day for fairytales however, so Extensio wasn't for passing; running out a game half length winner.
“It's unbelievable and I'd have given up a Group 1 winner for my daughter to ride the winner of this race,” said an emotional O'Donnell.
“We planned it two years ago. Both my children are in the industry, Patrick is in Hong Kong and I miss him a bit today.
“Sylvia and I planned this. He had shown form early, he was a very weak yearling, but he was a resolute galloper.
“Obviously the Ladies Derby is an important race. Sylvia works in Kildare, for BBA, so she'd have a lot of friends here.
“A lot of ducks had to line up in a row today and it's a hard thing to do.
“This horse has never run a bad race and he's been a very lucky horse and a very good ride.
“Sylvia rides out every morning for Ken Condon and that's only her third ride this year. She goes to the gym and it's a mammoth thing to do, and she's done it today.
“I was fortunate to have a winner at Cheltenham in 1995 (Chance Coffey — Coral Cup) but I'm sorry to say to all those national hunt aficionados that it pales into insignificance.
“That was a family horse as well, owned by my Dad and bred by my brother.
“This game has been very good to me and owes me nothing. It's a great industry.
“Funnily enough it's the only time I didn't get excited during a finish. I stood up there and watched it happen very slowly. You don't like to tempt fate but the ducks were in a row today.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
