Honeysuckle proved very game at the finish of the Grade 1 Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle to fend off the long odds-on favourite Benie Des Dieux by an eventual half-length.
Bought by Mark O'Hare for just €9,500 the 2017 Derby Sale, the daughter of Sulamani won a four-year-old mares' maiden on debut at Dromahane the following April for her handler, Jerry Cosgrave.
Ridden by O'Hare on that occasion, she won in by a very convincing 15 lengths at a course that has thrown up numerous Grade 1 winners down through the years.
Following that success she changed hands for €110,000 to owner Kenneth Alexander and joined the Co. Waterford stable of Henry De Bromhead, lining up for the Close Brothers Mares Hurdle in search of a fourth Grade 1 success.
In the hands of Rachael Blackmore, she was never far off the pace throughout, before getting a lovely run down the inside rail and hit the front rounding the home bend.
The star mare stuck well to her task in front and kept the well-regarded Benie Des Dieux at bay by half-a-length.
"I'm delighted with Honeysuckle - it was a superb performance to go and beat Benie Des Dieux," said de Bromhead.
"What a ride - my God, the way she got up the inside coming around the last turn. It was two amazing ladies together.
"I'm delighted with Honeysuckle - it was a superb performance to go and beat Benie Des Dieux," said de Bromhead.
"What a ride - my God, the way she got up the inside coming around the last turn. It was two amazing ladies together.
"Paul [Townend, aboard Benie Des Dieux] opted to go the other way and I think Rachael had to sit and suffer, to be fair. Suddenly, the gap appeared and she was gone. It's fantastic. She kind of threw herself at the last - Rachael wasn't sure and left it to Honey and she gave it a lash. She really toughed it out up the hill.
"The way she won her maiden hurdle, she looked nice. We let them try and develop in the track and see if they can work their way up, so you wouldn't be trying to find out too much at home. She always looked nice and was strongly recommended to us after she won her point-to-point.
"We will enjoy to today and see. It's amazing for her to do it. I didn't mind the ground for her, I was probably more concerned for Notebook, and the day she won in Fairyhouse at the start of the season was really testing ground."
"We will enjoy to today and see. It's amazing for her to do it. I didn't mind the ground for her, I was probably more concerned for Notebook, and the day she won in Fairyhouse at the start of the season was really testing ground."
