Leitir Mor (5): just got up under Kevin Manning to deny Lily's Angel
PICTURE: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)Approach's pacemaker Leitir Mor lands Group 3
Report: Leopardstown, Thursday
Ballycorus Stakes (Group 3) 7f, 3yo+
LEITIR MOR, who chased home Dawn Approach in the Dewhurst and acted as his pacemaker in the 2,000 Guineas, won for just the second time in a 16-race career.
He has lined up against his more illustrious stablemate on four occasions and despite having only won twice, the Ballycorus was his second success at Group 3 level.
Leitir Mor will return to his pacemaking role in the St James's Palace at Royal Ascot in five days time after the decision to run Dawn Approach in the Group 1.
The manner of victory was heartbreaking for the Ger Lyons-trained Lily's Angel, who led from the start and seemed to have found enough to repel the late challengers under Gary Carroll.
But Manning timed his charge to perfection, taking the lead with the final stride before the line.
"He deserved that," said trainer Jim Bolger. "Seven furlongs or a mile suits him. I told Kevin (Manning) to give him a good blow out with next Tuesday in mind. He'll join Dawn Approach in the St James's Palace Stakes and Ronan Whelan will ride."
Colm O'Donoghue celebrates as he wins the Ballyogan Stakes on Fiesolana
PICTURE: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)ALSO ON THURSDAY
Ballyogan Stakes (Group 3) 6f, 3yo+
IT WAS not to be for Tom Queally and Tickled Pink, the pair failing to justify 6-4 favouritism and land a first Group race for Warren Place since the death of Sir Henry Cecil, with the pair finishing unplaced behind Fiesolana.
The Lady Cecil runner attempted to make all but was passed in the final furlong, with Colm O'Donoghue pulling a length and a quarter clear on the four-year-old, with Boston Rocker and Hanky Panky filling the places.
Fiesolana was a first Group winner for trainer Willie McCreery, who said: "She likes ease in the ground and when the others swung wide she got a lovely run on the inside where the ground was that bit slower.
"We're lucky to have her. I've entered her for the Group 2 Kilboy Estates Stakes for fillies and mares at the Curragh (July 21) and she might go there."
