Six for O'Brien & four for Cleary at Leopardstown River Ara's victory in the concluding Irish Stallion Farms EBF Nursery at Leopardstown capped a dream birthday afternoon for 22-year-old Jack Cleary as Aidan O'Brien's filly provided him with his fourth winner on the card. It was a sixth winner on the seven-race card for O'Brien who was at Ascot where Mission Central was successful for him in the two-year-old conditions race on British Champions Day. Ronan Whelan was on board the other two O'Brien winners earlier in the day. The 13/8 favourite was prominent throughout and battled well to fend off Iamimmaculate by half a length after that rival had headed her over a furlong out. Both horses rolled around in the blustery conditions and an enquiry was called but there was little doubt that the placings would remain unaltered. Cleary's four-timer included his first ever Group race victory on Christmas Day in the Eyrefield Stakes which was followed just over an hour later by his second Pattern win on Dorset in the Killavullan Stakes. To cap it all, he now finds himself just one winner behind joint-leaders Robert Whearty and Wayne Hassett in the race to be champion apprentice.  Ballydoyle representative Chris Armstrong commented: “In fairness to the filly she’s run a couple of nice races coming into this. “We thought she was off a nice enough mark coming here. She jumped quick from the stalls, which she hadn’t been doing on her last couple of runs. “Jack gave her a lovely ride, he’s in unbelievable form. He’s probably the best value for 5lb riding at the moment, an unbelievable four-timer for his birthday. “We’ll see where we go next with her, she’ll have no problem going up in trip again. I’d say that’s probably her done for the year.” Additional reporting by Gary Carson
