Princess Child finally gets off the mark for Joseph O'Brien with Group 3 success

After a string of placed finishes in Listed company last season and a short-head second at the same level at this year's Galway festival, Princess Child finally gained a deserved first win since joining Joseph O'Brien with victory under Dylan Browne McMonagle in the Group 3 Coolmore Stud No Nay Never Fairy Bridge Stakes. 

The 3-1 second favourite managed to avoid the trouble caused by stablemate Mataariki, who inconvenienced a lot of the field, including 11-4 favourite Fingerpaint, the big gamble of the race, when she was switched to the stands' rail entering the straight by Declan McDonagh.

Ken Condon’s Queen Of Thunder fought back late on to force a photo, but Princess Child prevailed by a short head, and few could begrudge the four-year-old a first stakes success, which left her trainer beaming.

“I am delighted,” said O’Brien. “If any horse deserved to win a stakes race, it is her, but you don’t always get what you deserve. It was obviously a head-bobber, but she has come out on the wrong side of a good few head-bobs over the course of her career, so she deserves to be on the right side of one. 

“She had built up a whole load of black type, but you have to win one too. I would say that will be a career best, and when a horse wins a race they get confidence from it.”

Marques on the mark

Local trainer Fozzy Stack was was on the mark in the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Abergwaun Stakes with 8-1 chance Grande Marques. 

The three-year-old had run a decent race when placed in a Listed contest at Ayr on her penultimate run, and this was a huge effort after being well beaten in a Curragh Group 2 last time. 

The Starspangledbanner filly made all under Seamie Heffernan in the 5f contest, keeping on nicely to see off the attentions of Erosandpsyche by half a length. Her trainer now has his eyes on a Group 1 prize.

“She had the right draw [stall 14],” said Stack. “She was able to get that stands' rail, which is a big help, and nothing really bothered her in front. She is in the Flying Five and as the sprinters seem to be beating each other this year we have nothing to lose.” 

Lordan lording it

If Wayne Lordan is disappointed about missing the Irish Champions Festival and the St Leger meeting due to suspension, he didn’t show it here. The 43-year-old kicked off a double for Aidan O’Brien when even-money favourite Endorsement landed the opening 1m1f maiden.

Lordan followed that up with a driving win on 6-4 favourite Mississippi River in the 7½f Glenvale Stud Race. The Lope De Vega colt had been running consistently in handicaps and was rewarded here. 

Chris Armstrong, representing O’Brien, said of Mississippi River: “The horse has been fierce consistent and Wayne gave him a lovely ride.”

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