History reminds us to never give up on O'Brien-trained fillies

Coral Beach's win, under Michael Hussey, in the Group 3 Killavullan Stakes at Leopardstown last weekend again highlighted the folly of dismissing a Ballydoyle-trained filly from calculations for a Pattern race regardless of her form.

Time after time down the years, Aidan O'Brien-trained fillies have been persisted with despite a string of defeats before eventually coming good, and Coral Beach is a prime example.

The Killavullan was her 13th race and she had managed only one win, in a maiden at Cork early this month when fitted with a tongue-tie for the first time. Prior to her Cork success she had started favourite on six occasions and failed to deliver.