Iridessa (red and yellow silks) and Wayne Lordan win the Matron Stakes© Photo Healy Racing
Iridessa (10/1, from 12s on course) landed her third Group One success, all of them under Wayne Lordan, when winning the Coolmore ‘Fastnet Rock’ Matron Stakes, with winning trainer Joseph O’Brien denying his father Aidan a fifth winner on the day as Hermosa (7/2) finished three quarters of a length back in second, with Just Wonderful (12/1) another head away in third.
Last year’s winner Laurens (1/1 fav) tried to make all but was headed early in the straight and came home in fourth spot.
The winner, by Ruler Of The World, had previously won at the highest level in the bet365 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket last year (14/1) and the Juddmonte Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh in June (8/1), before failing to fire in the Kerrygold Irish Oaks.
Here, she wandered around a bit when making her challenge in the straight, but was well on top at the line.
“It's fantastic. The filly was very tough and Wayne gave her a great ride. We're over the moon,” said Joseph O'Brien.
“We were toying around with different trips, we weren't sure what her trip was. She ran okay over a mile earlier in the year, we went ten furlongs and she won.
“She ran well in the Oaks but it was a very messy race, they went very slow and sprinted up the straight so we put a line through that.
“She's a great filly, she seems to enjoy it when there is a bit of pace on in front of her and she has something to run at. I'm delighted for the owners.
“She's a home-bred. Mum and Dad bought the mare and this is the second foal out of her. She has some younger animals coming along and this is a nice boost.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
