Reply & Joseph O'Brien on their way to victory© Photo Healy Racing
Reply outclassed his rivals in the Listed Owenstown Stud Stakes, as he took top honours for Aidan & Joseph O’Brien.
The four-year-old son of Oasis Dream, who was third in the Irish 2000 Guineas last year, was just beaten by a neck in the Group 3 Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh last time out.
Sent off the 2/1 favourite he kept on strongly in the final furlong, coming home a two and a quarter length victor. Tobann ran on well to take second at 14/1 under Kevin Manning for Jim Bolger while Parliament Square was two lengths back in third under Seamie Heffernan at 6/1.
Joseph O’Brien said afterwards: "He is improving with racing and quick ground is the key to him. Trip wise six furlongs to a mile is ideal for him."
The winner was recording his third career success today, scoring for the first time since he took the valuable Weatherbys Insurance 300,000 2yo Stakes at Doncaster in September of 2011.
The stewards fined Damian Joseph English 130 euro for failing to lodge a passport in respect of Cash Or Casualty as required under the provisions of Rule 90. The horse was withdrawn.
Additional reporting by Michael Graham
