Billy Lee steers Pearls Galore home in Matron Stakes
Pearls Galore ridden by Billy Lee (right) wins The Coolmore America 'Justify' Matron Stakes during day one of the Longines Irish Champions Weekend at Leopardstown Racecourse in Dublin, Ireland. Picture Donall Farmer/PA Wire.
Billy Lee is vying for the lead in the jockeys’ championship and his winning ride aboard the Paddy Twomey-trained Pearls Galore in the Group 1 Coolmore America Justify Matron Stakes was the perfect example of the Tipperary jockey right at the top of his game.
The mare was runner-up in the race in 2021 but there were a couple of question marks about her current form following defeats in The Curragh and at Deauville. However, Twomey, who has emerged as a leading light in the training ranks over the past few seasons, remained determined that his charge could and would make her mark at the top level.
