Smullen delighted as he reaches 100 winners in season for first time

Pat Smullen reached 100 winners in a season for the first time as Brooch denied British raider Regardez in the feature Denny Cordell Lavarack & Lanwades Stud Fillies Stakes at Gowran Park.

Joseph O’Brien set out to make every yard on the Ralph Beckett-trained Regardez, getting serious off the turn.

Brooch, who had been in close attendance from the off, made it three almost in a line a furlong out, with Akira on the far rail, and just got the better of the argument close home to score by half a length. Odeliz was third for Karl Burke.

Unraced at two and successful in a Listed race at Killarney last time out, the 11-8 favourite was taking her unbeaten record to three in claiming Group Three honours at the first attempt.

Trainer Dermot Weld said: "That's wonderful. It's Pat's 100th winner of the season and my 15th Group winner this season.

“She has progressed nicely through the ranks, winning her maiden, then a Listed race and now a Group race. I imagine that will probably be it for the year.”

Celebrating his landmark winner, Smullen said: “It’s probably more a personal thing than anything. It’s not an easy achievement in Ireland. It’s down to the power of the Dermot Weld stable, a good agent and support from a lot of trainers. It’s a good achievement and I’m delighted with it.”

Bryan Cooper is back riding out and could return to racecourse action in a few weeks following a horror fall at the Cheltenham Festival.

Tom, his father and a successful trainer, said: “He’s getting there. He’s had huge improvement and started riding out last weekend. Hopefully a few weeks and he’ll be back in there.”