Sonny Carey denies Mullins & Elliott in 2025 finale Co Kildare trainer Sonny Carey has his small string of horses in great order and saddled a third winner from his last five runners when Lilannbee landed a gamble in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares (Pro/Am) Flat Race at Punchestown. Narrowly beaten when runner-up on her previous start at Tramore, the Order Of St George filly was as big as 25/1 this morning and was supported all the way into 4/1 at the off. In-form conditional rider Michael Kenneally was in the plate and gave a typically polished display as his mount made all the running to fend off Luciole Des Bordes (11/4) and Patrick Mullins by a length and three quarters. Gordon Elliott's Sound Judgement (11/8 favourite) was seven lengths farther back in third. Lilannbee is owned by Mary Kilduff and Kevin Cooke and winning trainer Sonny Carey explained “It was my own fault the first few times she ran as she wasn’t right, and she’s improving all the time. We always thought she was a nice filly and she’s starting to prove it now. “We might let her take her chance in the Grade 2 bumper in Leopardstown. It just fits in grand, and if we got a bit of black type it would be magic. “She’s very versatile ground-wise.” Carey was on the mark with smart mare Brosna Time in a Fairyhouse bumper in mid-December and handicap hurdler The Nagger Reidy at Leopardstown's Christmas fixture. Additional reporting by Alan Magee
