Classic-placed Devonshire gained a well-deserved victory as she took Listed honours in the Edmund Josie Whelan Memorial Listowel Stakes at the County Kerry venue.
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Devonshire (left) took Listed honours at Listowel
Third in the Irish 1,000 Guineas, the Willie McCreery-trained filly was always in the perfect position in second under Billy Lee as Queen Of Alba made the running.
From the moment Lee asked Devonshire to go and win her race approaching the home turn over two furlongs out, the race was as good as over and she won for the first time since October.
The 2-1 favourite quickly went clear and galloped on powerfully to score by four and a half lengths from Alive Alive Oh. Queen Of Alba kept on to claim third place.
McCreery said: “She deserved that as she’d finished second twice in Group races and was third in the Irish 1,000 Guineas.
“The poor old devil has just been placed, placed, placed and I’m delighted to see her get her head in front.
“She’s very honest, had run well early in the year on soft ground and will now step back to Group Three company. Bill (Lee) said she might get a mile and two.
“Things just didn’t work out the last day and today Bill had to go to the front (as early as he did) because she was tanking with him.
“She’s worth a lot more now. I hope she’ll come back next year.”