Facile Vega has 'wow' factor in Mullins' four-timer

Facile Vega lit up Leopardstown in the concluding Grade 2 bumper with a breathtaking display.

He was poised to challenge with less than three furlongs to travel and cruised upsides Sandor Clegane in the straight.

The five-year-old readily went on in the final quarter of a mile and shot clear over a furlong from home.

The Walk In The Park five-year-old did his mother, the mighty Quevega proud, in coming home by an eased down 12 lengths to justify 8/11 favouritism.

Sandor Clegane was best of the rest in second at 17/2 and finished eight lengths clear of Carnfunnock (28/1).

Patrick Mullins said: "That was pretty 'wow!', we went a good gallop and when I turned in and gave him a bit of rein he has lengthened his stride. He is a bit special I'd say.

"I think Redemption Day is up there with him. I'd say this fellow was quicker today than he was at Christmas, he quickened quicker, but Redemption Day would have to be in the conversation too.

"What I loved about him both days was I lined him up and he has had no cover and he settled both days. He's in your hand, he travels, but he is not fighting you. It makes life a lot easier as a jockey in that I'm not having to look for cover or having to drop in or do different things. I can ride him wherever I want.

"It's very unusual for good race mares to have very good progeny but Quevega was always a bit different."

Willie Mullins said: “He showed one day last year that he was good but he got sore after it and I just put him away for this year.

“I just didn't want to work him and I'd say that's the fastest he's gone all year.

“Today was the day to find out whether he was as good as I hoped he could be.

“That was a good field of horses and everyone that came up there today would have refused a lot of money for their horses before the race.

“I had huge respect for them and I was lining up in the race thinking I had a good horse but looking at the other horses in the race and what they had done and what they had won. I thought am I sort of half mad but he's even better than I thought he was. He looks like the real deal.”

When asked if he would go to Cheltenham he added:- “That's where we'll go with him. I'll just keep him right now, that's the whole thing.”

Facile Vega was the final leg of Mullins' quad on day one of the Dublin Racing Festival. He won the first three Grade Ones on the card via Minella Cocooner Vauban and Blue Lord

Additional reporting by Gary Carson