Diamondsandrubies holds on in the Pretty Polly© Photo Healy Racing
Diamondsandrubies won a head-bobbing finish with 6/4 favourite Legatissimo to seal victory in the featured Group One Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh.
The 8/1 shot was ridden by Seamie Heffernan for Aidan O'Brien and dictated matters from the front narrowly ahead of Secret Gesture
The pair matched strides with half a mile to race as Brooch travelled sweetly in a close third. On the turn in Heffernan started to get to work on Diamondsandrubies who held a definite lead from Secret Gesture.
A furlong and a half out Diamondsandrubies came under the whip but she was finding plenty for pressure. Legatissimo started to mount her challenge and moved into a dangerous second just inside the furlong marker.
Legatissimo came with a very strong challenge on the inside and just failed to get up as Diamondsandrubies gamely battled all the way to the line to win by a short head. Ribbons (8/1) unleashed her effort on the outside and closed into third, a further neck away.
Seamie Heffernan said: "I rode her in Epsom and it didn't really swing my way. Sometimes Epsom finishes a horse and sometimes the good horses thrive on it. She's obviously good.
"We thought she'd stay and I jumped and she landed in front and I was happy enough to go along with it. I knew they (the challengers) were coming. I knew where the line was. I was a bit unlucky at Epsom. Aidan trains them to progress from run to run and today she was at her best so hopefully there will be more improvement."
Aidan O'€™Brien added: "€œShe was very unlucky at Epsom and was probably the most inconvenienced by the whole thing. She was always going to come here and we said we’d let Quality take her chance in the Derby.
"€œWe'€™d like to have got a lead but that'€™s not the way it worked out, and Seamie gave her a great ride. Emmet McNamara rides her out every day at home and does a great job.
"€œWe know the dam well (Quarter Moon) and I'm delighted for Richard and Roisin (Hickey, part-owners with Sue Magnier).
"€œWe'll ride her a bit more patiently over a mile and a half, and Quality and Words will also run in the Irish Oaks."
Diamondsandrubies was fourth in the Oaks at Epsom.
For the Irish Oaks Paddy Power go: 5/2 Diamondsandrubies, Curvy, 11/2 Words and 7/1 Pleascach Qualify.
BoyleSports have Diamondsandrubies at 3/1.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
