Irresistible Jewel Takes Ribblesdale; U.S. May Be Next

• Print

Irish champion jockey Pat Smullen waited as long as he could, then unleashed Irresistible Jewel for a late run to get up and take the Ribblesdale Stakes (Eng-II) at Royal Ascot Thursday.

The 3-year-old Danehill filly was held up by Smullen in last through quick opening fractions, slowly moved forward, then was hard ridden the last furlong of the 1 1/2-mile event. She beat Shadow Dancing by three-quarters of a length, with Red Rioja third in the 15-horse field. The time was 2:31.35.

Irresistible Jewel (Danehill--In Anticipation, by Sadler's Wells) may now head to the U.S. for a run in the new American Oaks, to be run at Hollywood Park on July 6. Trainer Dermot Weld said the 3-year-old filly would either run next at Hollywood or in the Irish Oaks (Ire-I).

Irresistible Jewel, who has won two of four starts, is a homebred racing for Moyglare Stud. She was sent off at 12-1.

"She won very easily the other day (June 3) and I thought she'd like the ground," Weld said. "I think she is a lovely progressive filly, and she loves the fast ground."

• Print