Ballingarry jockey Billy Lee enjoys success at Irish Derby weekend

BALLINGARRY jockey Billy Lee landed a 16/1 winner for trainer Ken Condon as Sioux Spirit took the near six-furlong handicap at Naas on Wednesday.

In the colours of the Cinco Partnership, she led over a furlong from the finish and had plenty in hand in beating beat the Fozzy Stack-trained 11/4 favourite Aussie Girl, subsequently a winner at the Curragh over the weekend, by a length and a half. A Stack runner also chased home the easiest winner of the night as Jessica Harrington’s Eternal Silence, ridden by Chris Hayes, ran away with the fillies’ maiden over eight furlongs.

Carrying the colours of Moyglare Stud, the 4/9 favourite hardly came out of a canter as she made most of the running to easily beat the Stack-trained Hotaugustnight by 11 lengths.

Lee scored for another Curragh-based trainer when partnering Verhoyen to win the seven-furlong handicap as the three-day Derby festival kicked off on Friday.

The Michael Grassick-trained eight-year-old was winning for the seventh time in all and he recorded his sixth win at the Curragh when making all the running to beat the Ado McGuinness-trained Hightimeyouwon by two and a half lengths at odds of 12/1. Lee has been on board for six of the gelding’s wins.

Upcoming Fixtures:

Roscommon – Tuesday, July 4 (First Race 4.45pm)

Tipperary – Tuesday, July 4 (First Race 1.35pm)

Tipperary – Wednesday, July 5 (First Race 5.05pm)

Tipperary – Thursday, July 6 (First Race 5.10pm)

Bellewstown – Thursday, July 6 (First Race 4.25pm)

Bellewstown – Friday, July 7 (First Race 4.10pm)

Wexford – Friday, July 7 (First Race 5.05pm)

Bellewstown – Saturday, July 8 (First Race 4.55pm)

Naas – Saturday, July 8 (First Race 2.10pm)

Sligo – Sunday, July 9 (First Race 2pm)