Sagrada Familia and Mikey Sheehy beat Orchid Gardens© Photo Healy Racing
Sagrada Familia secured a treble for Joseph O'Brien at Punchestown this afternoon when running out a convincing winner of the nine-furlong fillies maiden.
Mikey Sheehy did the steering this time as the Golden Horn filly, a second on the day for owners Sun Bloodstock, stuck on well at the business end to open her account.
The 3/1 shot pulled her way to the front after a couple of furlongs and then made the best of her way home.
Sheehy found a willing partner in the straight as she galloped on strongly to beat Orchid Gardens by three-and-a-half lengths.
Sagrada Familia was stepping up slightly in trip having been placed over a mile on her last two outings.
Assistant Brendan Powell said:- “She’s tough. She’d been running well and deserved to win a race. She’s got a nice pedigree.
“He said she was keen when she jumped out from that draw. They weren’t going much of a gallop but Mikey showed good initiative and when she put her head in front she settled better.
“I think she’s a filly that will stay a mile and a half one day. She’s a big strong filly who coped with the ground well and galloped all the way to the line.
“I think that’s Joseph’s 650th winner. It took me 20 years to train 645 and he’s only been doing it five years!”
(Quotes by Alan Magee)
