Sonja too strong for older rivals

American Sonja proved too strong for her elders when making a winning return in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (Fillies) Handicap at Gowran Park.

The Joseph O'Brien-trained daughter of Tasleet had finished on a winning note last season and went to post 11/8 favourite on her comeback run.

She was held up by Dylan Browne McMonagle in the seven-furlong contest before coming to challenge between horses a furlong-and-a-half from home.

Having hit the front passing the furlong pole the three-year-old soon asserted to record a three-and-a-quarter-length win over All Lies Ahead

Assistant Brendan Powell said afterwards:-“That was a good performance and they went a decent gallop. She settles well and you can put her where you like.

“This time of the year it is hard against the older horses but it was a good performance. She is definitely a stakes filly.

“She was tall last year but has filled out this year and is a bigger, stronger filly.”

The winner has entries in the Group 3 Athasi Stakes and the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh next month.

(Quotes by Alan Magee)