by Mike Curry

Irish Lights battled gamely in the final strides on Wednesday to prevail by a neck in the Schweppes Thousand Guineas (Aus-G1) at Caulfield and nail down her third straight victory for trainer David Hayes.

Ridden by Glen Boss, the Fastnet Rock filly stalked the pace from second in the 1,600-meter (7.95-furlong) race and surged to the front approaching the straight.

Runner-up Melito and third-place finisher Faint Perfume made Irish Lights earn her first Group 1 victory in the final strides, but she would not be denied and won by a neck while completing the distance in 1:38.38 on turf rated as good.

“She raced without cover and is better with cover,” Hayes told the Australian Associated Press. “Glen was confident; he put her there. She had enough to hold them off. She raced against her pattern of racing and she still won. That’s pretty exciting.”

Melito edged Faint Perfume by a neck for second.

Irish Lights entered the Thousand Guineas off a win in the Schweppes Thousand Guineas Prelude Tranquil Star (Aus-G3). Out of the winning Hennessy mare Aspen Falls, Irish Lights is from the family of Grade 1 winner and 1994 Broodmare of the Year Fall Aspen.

Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor