Raucous celebrations as racing’s new star is born after lighting up Punchestown with ‘bonkers’ win

A NEW star was born at Punchestown as little-known Aine O’Connor hit the big time with a Grade 3 win on Familiar Dreams.

The winner’s enclosure was lit up as beaming O’Connor rode her beloved mare through the hordes of adoring fans after capturing the mares’ bumper.

Aine and Familiar Dreams have struck up a winning partnership over the past few months – and it’s one that’s been especially kind to punters.

They have won their past four races together at odds of 13-8, 17-2, 13-2 and, most recently at Punchestown, 4-1.

She even got the better of the well-backed Willie Mullins 15-8 favourite Aurora Vega, although it all looked to have gone wrong approaching the final furlong.

Aine had been travelling sweetly on her Anthony McCann-trained horse but she hung sharply left approaching the post.

Matters were made so much worse when she dropped her whip as well, meaning she had no way of correcting the drift.

Aine had to rely on instinct as the heavily-backed Mozzies Sister – who was smashed into 5-1 from 20s – stormed home down the far side, with Mullins’ Aurora Vega not far behind.

But she did just that, cajoling her mare to find more at the end of the 2m½f contest worth a very decent €26,550 (£22,707) to the winner.

Amazing celebrations followed as Familiar Dreams made her way back in.

Her owners were chanting: “We’re not scared of Willie Mullins!”

And a delighted Aine said: “That was really special. She’s a really sweet, consistent mare.

“To win a Grade 3 on her – she’s so deserving of it and it’s very special to me to do it on her.

“It’s the fourth time in a row I’ve won on her and she just keeps improving, she never knows when she’s beaten.

“She tries her heart out and she’s just everything you’d want in a nice mare.

“The owners are a wild bunch! But it’s great to see people really enjoy it and it means so much to them. That’s what racing’s about!”

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