Rosetta bounces back to form in Down Royal feature

Sister Rosetta the outsider of the field at 25/1, bounced back to form as she made all in the feature at Down Royal this evening, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies & Mares Handicap.

A winner at Dundalk in November of 2020 when trained by Ger Lyons, the Awtaad bay was claimed by current connections for E10,000 after finishing fifth at the aforementioned all-weather venue in January of this year.

Disappointing on her first three starts for James McAuley, she was fitted with cheekpieces for the first time this evening and broke smartly to lead from her wide draw in stall seven.

Ridden from the furlong pole, she kept up the gallop all the way to the line, coming home a length-and-a-half to the good under Gary Carroll from Curraheen Princess in second.

The runner-up was returned the 5/2 favourite under Joe Doyle for Nicky Stokes, while Maggie Thunder (10/1) was a further two lengths back in third.

"I rode her when she was rated 94 and she was off 66 there. He (James McAuley) said she got a bit of a wind job and was treated for ulcers after her last run," Carroll said.

"She skated along and went right to the line.

"It was a bit nicer out there (wide)."

STEWARDS REPORTS

J. Coen, rider of Dun Na Sead trained by Kieran P. Cotter, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount was slowly away from the starting stalls.

M.P. Sheehy, rider of Red Wasp trained by Joseph Patrick O'Brien, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount was checked at the one furlong marker.

The Stewards enquired into an incident inside the final two hundred yards involving Little Queenie ridden by Ciara Flynn and Red Wasp, ridden by M.P. Sheehy, where it appeared that Red Wasp checked when Little Queenie drifted onto her racing line. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. In his evidence, M.P. Sheehy stated that his mount broke slowly and did not help him throughout the race but when responding to the whip Little Queenie had rolled out onto Red Wasp's racing line causing a check. Ciara Flynn stated that her mount ran around on the yielding ground. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards advised Ciara Flynn to ride with more awareness.

The Stewards requested a report from James McAuley, trainer, as to the apparent improvement in form of Sister Rosetta, placed first, as compared with its recent form. James Gough, Authorised representative of James McAuley reported that their change had been acquired through a claiming race and they were informed that she had slipped her palate. Consequently the filly had a tie forward but her initial runs post operation failed to show much improvement but today with strong handling under a change of tactics, the application of first time cheek pieces and her own positive attitude contributed to the improved performance. Having considered the evidence the Stewards noted the content of the report.

Additional reporting by Michael Graham