WAITINGFORTHEDAY outdid the returning Skitter Scatter with a half-length victory in the Group 3 Coolmore Stud Fairy Bridge Stakes at Tipperary.

John Oxx’s Skitter Scatter, winner of last year’s Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes, was the focus of attention on just her second outing of the season and first for almost four months since she suffered a muscle injury when 14th of 15 in the Qipco 1000 Guineas at Newmarket.

The 5/2 favourite performed with credit on her comeback to finish an honourable second, but had no answer to Joseph O’Brien’s 6/1 shot Waitingfortheday, ridden by the trainer’s brother Donnacha, who was completing a quick double on the card.

O’Brien’s four-year-old was running for the second time in just five days, after her runner-up effort in the Listed Ruby Stakes at Killarney, and this seven-and-a-half-furlong success took her career victory tally to six.

Skitter Scatter just got to the front in the final furlong, after Ronan Whelan had bided his time in midfield, but it was Waitingfortheday who then produced the telling acceleration – with long-time leader Hells Babe a further half-length back in third.

Winning jockey O’Brien said: “She completely stops when she gets to the front, so it’s hard to know how good she is. Even today I was in front for a stride – and she stopped – but she obviously has loads of ability.

“Because she does so little, it’s hard for the handicapper and us to get a handle on just how good she is. She’s still improving, and we hope she can continue.

“It worked out nicely that the filly I had to beat was the one that I ended up beside.”