Agusta takes Gold at Downpatrick

Agusta Gold got off the mark on her fourth try over flights, as she took the opener at Downpatrick this afternoon, the Keeping It Country Raceday & Concert Mares Maiden Hurdle.

Trained by Mags Mullins, and ridden by her son Danny, the daughter of Gold Well was sent off the 5/6 favourite after finishing second on her last two starts at Wexford and Killarney respectively.

Settled behind the front-running Perfect In Pink she improved to join that one from two out.

Perfect In Pink then unseated at the last, leaving Agusta Gold clear, and she went on to score by six lengths. Derecho Storm finished second at 50/1, while Milomynit was another half a length back in third at 10s.

The winning trainer said afterwards: "She still has to go out and do it - she's genuine and she's a super galloper, she gallops and gallops. She runs well every day and she's a lovely mare. I'm delighted.

"She travelled sweetly, she's a big old mare and it is a tight track. She did it well.

"I'd say when she sees a fence she will be better. We'll see but I would say that would probably be next year. There's plenty of scope for fences.

"She's after winning her bumper and just took her time to get her jumping right. She won today and got the bonus both days - I'd love to have a mare that got the three bonuses, one over fences as well.

"She's a real, genuine, honest mare and tries her heart out every day."

Additional reporting by Michael Graham