Tested takes Listed spoils
Monday 2 June 2014
Tested quickly bounced back from her slightly disappointing showing in the Irish Guineas with victory in the Owenstown Stud Stakes at Naas.
Dermot Weld’s stable jockey Pat Smullen chose the three-year-old over stable companion Vote Often in the Curragh Classic, but while Vote Often picked up place prize-money, Tested was well-beaten in sixth.
Turned out just eight days later for this Listed event, Tested was given time to find her feet by Smullen and Ansgar briefly looked to have slipped the field when kicking clear off the home bend.
However, Smullen got the 100-30 shot rolling two furlongs out and she mowed down the leader to take the prize by a length and three-quarters.
Slipper Orchid finished strongly to deny Ansgar the runner-up spot, with favourite Giovanni Boldini perhaps slightly unlucky in fifth having encountered a troubled passage.
Smullen said: “That was the reason I rode her in the Guineas.Today’s race worked out perfectly for her. She’s a bit strong and a bit keen. They went very fast and got her off the bridle, so I gave her chance to finish.
“This filly has a bit of class and once I got her into top gear I always knew I was going to get there.
“Seven furlongs is her trip. It’s not a great distance as there aren’t many races at seven furlongs, but seven furlongs is her right trip.”
Weld said: “I thought it was a very good performance. Naas has an excellent programme today and consequently they got the horses and the crowd.
“I thought it was a very true run race. Ansgar is a good, tough competitor and our filly came home well.
“It was a little soon (after the Guineas) but I was very happy with her. It was heavy ground in the Guineas. Pat went with her and she ran a very good race but didn’t get home on the testing ground.
“I was a little concerned the ground might be a bit slow today as she’s a very good moving filly.
“That’s her trip, we know her right trip now – she didn’t get home in the Guineas.
“We’ll look for a Group race for her now. She’s had three quick runs in succession so might get a break now and come back for something like the Fairy Bridge (Tipperary, August 28).”
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