Mullins mare has Listed mission
Saturday 23 November 2013
The hat-trick seeking Shesafoxylady takes star billing in what looks a fascinating ITBA Fillies Scheme European Breeders Fund Mares INH Flat Race at Navan on Sunday.
Placed twice at Galway on her first two career starts, the Willie Mullins-trained five-year-old opened her account at the third time of asking with a smart display at Punchestown in the middle of October.
She was back in the winner’s enclosure again in County Kildare a couple of weeks later, but only after getting the race in the stewards’ room having been clearly hampered by Elsie, who was eventually demoted to second.
The pair lock horns again this weekend, with the third home at Punchestown Toe The Line, and the fourth Magic Vixen, also renewing rivalries.
Steve Massey, racing manager for owners the Supreme Horse Racing Club, is hopeful Shesafoxylady can confirm her superiority.
He said: “We’re really looking forward to the race. She’s in really good order and I think we have about 40 owners coming, which is great. We gave Elsie 7lb last time and we only have to give her 3lb on Sunday, so you’d like to think we can beat her.
“There are a lot of other good mares in there, including Princess Leya of Mags Mullins’ who won by 18 lengths at Cork, and Stuart Crawford has a newcomer that could be anything (Taylor).
“It’s great for Irish racing having a mares’ Listed race, for breeders as well as owners. It’s a tough race to win, but if Foxy runs her race I’m sure she’ll be there or thereabouts.”
Elsie is trained by Mullins’ brother Tom, who is confident there is more improvement in his mare, saying: “She’s in good form and we’re hoping to get a bit of black-type. She’s come on well from the last day and she’s getting fitter all the time.
“She should have as good a chance as any of them and she has that bit of age on her side over some of the rest of them. A few of her rivals have impressed but we’ll see more on Sunday. It’ll be a hard race to win and I’d say there are three or four of them there that’ll turn out to very good mares in time.”
Eoin Doyle’s surprise Killarney winner Palm Sur puts her unbeaten record on the line, with top amateur Nina Carberry doing the steering.
Doyle said: “She’s in good form. We think a lot of her and we’re hoping that she runs very well. The track should suit her as she stays well. It’s competitive but we’ll let her take her chance and hopefully she’ll give a good account of herself. We have Nina booked so she won’t lack assistance from the saddle, anyway.”
Fire Dawn performed creditably to finish seventh against geldings in what looked a hot Punchestown bumper a week ago.
Her trainer Jessica Harrington said: “She ran very well last week where I was delighted with her and hopefully she has a chance of getting a bit of black-type. The race as ever looks very competitive and we’ll just have to see how things pan out.”
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