Aurora Vega passes stiffest test to date with flying colours

Aurora Vega maintained her unbeaten record, easily coping with what was undoubtedly her stiffest test to date, when staying on strongly to win the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mucklemeg Mares Flat Race at Gowran Park.

A daughter of Walk In The Park, out of champion racemare Quevega, the Willie Mullins trained five-year-old had easily won her first two starts without having to come off the bridle.

Stepping up to Listed class, taking on a host of previous winners was an altogether different test this afternoon but the mare coped with it admirably.

A slow early pace wouldn't have suited as the runners were stacked up but Mill House Creek eventually went on and set the fractions.

As the later began to come back to the chasing pack entering the straight, Patrick Mullins brought Aurora Vega to the stands side. Tracked by her stablemate Abi's Champ another dual winner) the scene looked set for a real battle but as Mullins pressed the button on Aurora Vera she quickened clear of her chief rival. Sharp Object emerged from the pack to stay on best for second, ahead of Abi's Champ but by that stage Aurora Vega had flown.

Patrick Mullins said: “What a broodmare, two black type horses from three foals.

“The ground was a concern as she was a little bit keen but I think she was idling a bit in front and there was more in the tank.

“I’d be hoping we might aim her at some good bumpers in the spring — the Dublin Racing Festival, Aintree and Punchestown as there is good prizemoney. That’s what I will be trying to steer Willie towards anyway!

“She keeps improving. She has a lot to live up to but she is doing it at the moment.

“She seemed to be fine on the ground. That’s a lot different than winter soft but she handled it fine.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee.

Paddy Powers went 12/1(from 14/1) Aurora Vega for the Mares Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham.