Rebel Wave in full flow to seal hat-trick Rebel Wave rattled in to bring up her hat-trick in the Autumn Fillies' Handicap that rounded out day one of Irish Champions Festival at Leopardstown. Ben Coen was on board today and his mount was in behind a host of horses a furlong and a half down. She got a split just outside the furlong pole and as he hadn't asked her for maximum effort yet, it looked like she would play a big role in the finish. The three-year-old filly was soon third and had a couple of lengths to find on the leader Chica Guerrera but she surged home under a drive to get there close home. The 7/1 chance beat Chica Guerrera (18/1) by half a length with Killashee Warrior (18/1) third and 11/2 favourite Suzie Songs in fourth. Coen said: “It was straightforward. I probably knew at the beginning I wasn’t going to be too handy. “We went a good strong gallop for the first two furlongs and then steadied it up a little bit around the home turn, but I thought they got going again quite early. “I had to wait for a bit of a run a furlong down but, if I didn’t, I probably could have got there plenty soon enough. “I was second on her in Limerick and I was sick I got beaten. I got something out of her anyway. “I think back up to a mile suited her. She’s by New Bay and she probably would stretch out a little bit further if you needed her to. “Hopefully, she can get a bit of black-type for the lads now.” She won handicaps at the Curragh and in Gowran Park over 7f under Billy Lee. The Raceday Stewards enquired into an incident in the straight involving Quebec (GER), ridden by J.M. Sheridan, and Mayflower, ridden by D. Egan where it appeared Mayflower shifted right interfering with Quebec. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. J.M. Sheridan said he had to take a minor check when receiving pressure from his left. D. Egan said he went right into a gap and felt he didn't cause much interference. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Raceday Stewards found D. Egan was in breach of Rule 214 in that he had ridden carelessly and having considered his clean record in this regard, the Raceday Stewards suspended him for two racedays. Additional reporting by Gary Carson
