Royal Ascot winners combine for Killarney double

June’s Royal Ascot-winners jockey Gary Carroll and trainer Joe Murphy combined for a late-season double at Killarney today, with Lady Lilac (2/9f) completing the feat in the Muckross Lake Median Auction Maiden.

Carroll and Murphy, who this summer combined for Cercene’s memorable Coronation Stakes success, had landed today’s opener with Alphecca (85/40f) and doubled their score with easy victor Lady Lilac, which won easily from runner-up Green Kite .

Successful jockey Carroll reported “Lady Lilac had been running consistently but had been unfortunate not to have got her head in front until now. Today was a lovely opportunity and she did it nicely.

“They are hoping she will get stronger next year and while there isn’t a whole lot of her, with a good winter she might just come back stronger. I think they will have plenty of fun with her next year, she wants that bit of ease in the ground and a mile to a mile-and-a-bit looks her trip.

“She is a model of consistency so it is great to get her head in front and hopefully there is improvement from three (years) to four.

“Brendan (Quinn, owner) also bred her and I won the Listed race at Galway on this filly’s half-sister Galtee Mist. She was a good filly too but didn’t win her Listed race until she was five, so there is every chance Lady Lilac can get better too.”