Lyons and Keane bid to extend Cooley Stakes domination with Naomi Lapaglia The Irish Stallion Farms EBF Cooley Fillies Stakes is the highlight on a seven-race card at Dundalk this evening and the mile Listed event has attracted a maximum field of 14 runners. Ger Lyons and Colin Keane have teamed up to land this race for the past three years and again have a leading contender in the shape of Naomi Lapaglia who carries a 3lb penalty having won a Listed race at Gowran on her penultimate start. Aidan O’Brien has three declared including Ballet Slippers while the Willie McCreery-trained Jancis is another for the shortlist. Pink Oxalis gained the first of four wins for connections this year when successful over course and distance back in March and will also take her chance. She continued her impressive climb up the ranks by landing the €100,000 Hong Kong Jockey Club Autumn Fillies Handicap on Champions Weekend at Leopardstown and trainer Stephen Thorne is hopeful of a good run saying, “She was campaigned lightly through the winter months. She won I think the night we had the treble to win the (all-weather) championship. “She got her head in front that night and then kept improving steadily through the turf season. “We know she handles the surface. I think there's five or six above her in the ratings, but I am hopeful. “She is still in good nick for a filly that has been on the go all year. We lightly campaigned her and she is still in good shape.” Additional reporting by Michael Graham
