Uluru upstages stable companion in Limerick feature Uluru upstaged stable companion Lemsairbat, to provide Chris Hayes with a poignant win in the feature at Limerick, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Martin Molony Stakes. Without a win since her debut success at Gowran when in the care of Kevin Coleman, the Zoffany victor was last seen finishing down the field in a Listed contest last month. Returned at 6/1 this afternoon, the Team Valor-owned bay came widest of all entering the straight and was pushed along in fifth. Soon ridden, she shot to the front from the furlong pole and kept on well from there to beat her aforementioned Joseph O'Brien-trained stablemate by a length-and-a-quarter. Wayne Hassett was aboard the runner-up, who was returned the 7/4 favourite, while Layfayette, who won this race in 2023, was another three-lengths away in third. "It's nice to get the ride and I had a bit of luck with these owners before with Panama Hat so they're lucky connections," Hayes, sporting a black armband in memory of the late Kevin Prendergast, commented. "At double meetings like this, when you get to ride work for Joseph, you've always a chance of getting on something. That's my second winner for him. "She switched off like it was a piece of work and I got there an hour and a half too soon because I didn't think I was going that well running into the straight. All of a sudden, I angled her out and she leapt into the bridle. "She enjoyed the ground and the trip and I think there's more to come." O'Brien was completing a cross card double, having took the second at Down Royal with Angelo Pio. STEWARDS REPORTS * The Raceday Stewards enquired into an incident at around the two furlong pole involving Queenstown, ridden by R.P. Whelan, placed sixth, Drawn To Dream, ridden by D.W. O'Connor, placed fifth, and Sharpen, ridden by A.J. Slattery, placed fourth, where it appeared interference may have occurred. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. R.P. Whelan said he received interference from both sides. D.W. O'Connor said he received a bump from his left. A.J. Slattery said his mount ducked right after he applied the whip but he corrected her immediately. Having viewed the recording of the race, the Raceday Stewards took no further action. * A.J. Slattery, rider of Sharpen, trained by Donnacha Aidan O'Brien, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount hung right in the straight. * The Raceday Stewards requested a report from Joseph Patrick O'Brien, trainer, as to the apparent improvement in form of Uluru, placed first, as compared with its recent form. The trainers representitive, Shane Crosse, attributed the apparent improvement in form to the step up in trip combined combined with the ease in the ground. Having considered the report the Raceday Stewards noted its contents. Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
