Stripes secures a spot in the Irish Guineas

Bright Stripes won the Coolmore Stud Paddington Irish EBF Tetrarch Stakes at the Curragh by surprising everyone by going from last to first by a margin of 16-1.

On his three-year-old debut at Leopardstown last month, Andy Oliver's charge was lagging behind Battle Cry by 23 lengths, while Samuel Colt was only beaten by half a length to finish second to his stablemate.

Samuel Colt, trained by Aidan O'Brien, was favoured at 4-11 and was backed as though victory was guaranteed on this occasion.

However, near the end of the mile race, he attempted to appear dishonest, and Bright Stripes easily defeated both of those opponents thanks to a cunning ride from Billy Lee.

Oliver said of the Starspangledbanner son, which finished a length ahead of time, "We were very concerned about the ground, as he's such a good-moving horse. Last year, we didn’t get anything else and his run in the Killavullan (when second at Group Three level) was on very heavy ground. This year, on the first day out, he encountered similar ground and just didn’t seem to like it at all. We expected the ground to dry out today, but it didn’t and I thought long and hard about not running him. Billy switched him off and he really accelerated. It just goes to show how much we really know! He was very impressive. The only day he got good ground was when he won his maiden at Naas. He’s in the Irish Guineas and all being well that is where he’ll go next. If he follows last year’s winner (Paddington), I’ll be happy enough with that!”