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One Look wins Park Express Stakes for Lee and Twomey

One Look and Billy Lee. One Look and Billy Lee.
© Healy Racing Photos

One Look made a winning seasonal reappearance for trainer Paddy Twomey when staying on best inside the final furlong to win the Lodge Park Stud Irish EBF Park Express Stakes (Group 3) (Fillies & Mares) at the Curragh.

A smart juvenile, the daughter of Gleneagles won on her return at Cork last season but failed to add to that success until taking a Listed contest in Killarney towards the end of the campaign.

Sent off 9/2 this afternoon, the four-year-old was always to the fore under Billy Lee, chasing leader Princess Child

As the latter gave way over two furlongs out, the race developed into a dual between One Look and English challenger Bright Thunder

The latter looked a serious threat at the furlong pole but weakened out of contention inside the last 150 yards, as a trio of rivals headed by Ecstatic kept on late.

However, One Look had matters well in hand, recording a comfortable one-and-three-quarter length victory for connections.

“I was hoping that she’d do something like that,” said Twomey.

“I told the lads last November that we’d aim for the Park Express. I looked for it in the calendar on the first day and it was missing! They moved it and it probably suited us.

“She’s a filly that didn’t blossom at the start of last year and we gave her a chance, then she did well in the Autumn.

“We decided when she was second in Gowran the last day not to race on at that stage with this year in mind. It’s great that the owners have been patient with me.

“She’s tough and I think a mile is the minimum for now. Ten furlongs will be well within her compass. She’ll have an entry in the Lanwades Stakes.

“She’s a Group winner now and we’ll try and go as far up the ladder as we can for the rest of the year. We’ll take our time.

“The ability was never in question it was just last spring she wasn’t ready to do what the world expected her to do. She’ll probably prove yet that she is that kind of filly.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson.

1st
9/2
Tote €6.60 €1.80
2nd
1.75L
7/1
€2.20
3rd
nk
5/2
€1.50
4th
hd
80/1
bf
2.5L
2/1Fav
About John O'Riordan
John has worked for the Press Association since 2022. He also writes a weekly column for The Irish Field and is a regular contributor to the Irish Racing Yearbook. He has previously written for the Racing Post, Irish Examiner and Irish Daily Mirror. He has been involved in racing for over three decades; having experience as a syndicate member, sole owner and breeder.