DUBLIN, Sept 7: The Dubai-based Godolphin Operation’s Grandera won a thrilling Irish Champion Stakes here at Leopardstown Saturday to push champion Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien into second for the second successive year.

Star Italian rider Frankie Dettori got Grandera up literally on the line to edge Irish favourite Hawk Wing by a short head with another Godolphin entry Best of the Bests third.

While Grandera’s win pushed him further ahead in the World Series standings Hawk Wing was left filling the bridesmaid’s role in a Group One race for the third time this season having finished second in the English 2000 Guineas and English Derby behind his stablemates Rock of Gibraltar and High Chapparal respectively.—AFP