Mary Doll battles well for 66/1 success at Galway Fourth in a barrier trial at Leopardstown last month, the John O'Donoghue-trained Mary Doll landed the Irish EBF Median Sires Fillies Maiden at odds of 66/1 at Galway this evening. Rory Mulligan produced the outsider to challenge Jessica Harrington’s front-running 4/1 chance Lunar Empress on the run to the straight and she edged to the front over a furlong out. The pair battled it out all the way to the line, with Mary Doll prevailing by a neck in the colours of owner Paul Hyland. The Paddy Twomey-trained 15/8 favourite Churchill Bond was unable to get to the leaders inside the final furlong and was a length and a half off the runner-up at the line. John O'Donoghue said, "She had an away day at Dundalk and a barrier trial done, so we wanted to deliver first time, so this is great. To do it for the Hylands is great too, as they have been great supporters of mine since day one. "We were conscious of the rain arriving and wanted to use Rory, as he is riding exceptionally and has ridden some very good races for us recently. "Ireland is a tough jurisdiction to be campaigning two-year-olds, that's what we're all about and this filly is very much on the market. Hitting the (first) 'three' or the 'five' was the objective, but Rory did well from a wide draw and I just think she was the superior filly in the race. "She has a lot of filling out to do and will be a filly for 10 furlongs next year. I know people have their opinions on her sire Waldgeist, but she is tenacious and has done it very professionally." Quotes from Tom Weekes
