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Lumiere Rock shines brightest in Blandford Stakes

Joseph O’Brien’s Lumiere Rock gained a well-deserved breakthrough success this season when powering clear for a comfortable victory in the Group 2 Moyglare “Jewels” Blandford Stakes at the Curragh.

LUMIERE ROCK.
LUMIERE ROCK. Picture: Healy Racing

Lumiere Rock hadn't been seen in the winners' enclosure since landing the Group 3 Staffordstown Stud Stakes over a mile at the Curragh on her final start as a juvenile, but she had posted some solid efforts in defeat this season including when fourth behind Savethelastdance in the Irish Oaks in July.

The Joseph O'Brien-trained daughter of Saxon Warrior was sent off a 6/1 chance on the back of an excellent narrow second-place finish in the Group 2 Prix Alec Head at Deauville last month and made no mistake on the Curragh this afternoon.

Always prominent under a confident-looking Dylan Browne McMonagle, the chestnut filly picked up smartly once switched off the heels of the front-running Red Riding Hood and she soon had matters fully under control when scooting clear approaching the final furlong.

The pack chased in vain but were no match for Lumiere Rock, who found herself three lengths clear of a staying-on Jackie Oh (16/5 F) at the line, with Trevaunance back in third.

Joseph O'Brien said: "She really did deserve her win in Group 2 company, she'd been running well in really good company all season. She won today like a filly he could win in Group 1 company as she gets older.

"She has two obvious targets for the autumn, one in France on Arc day and one at Ascot on Champions Day.

"We'll see how she pulls up but she's an exciting filly and will hold her own in either of those two big targets in the autumn."

Lumiere Rock was cut to 14/1 from 25/1 by Paddy Power for the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot.


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