Vassula Ryden justifies favouritism in Navan opener

Vassula Ryden showed the benefit of her debut at Galway last month when opening her account in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden at Navan.

The Willie McCreery-trained filly was third over seven furlongs in that Ballybrit event and was well-backed here dropping back in trip.

The 11/8 favourite was prominent throughout under Billy Lee and asserted on the stands’ side rail inside the final 150 yards to score by three and a half lengths. Goldrush Kid took the runner-up spot with newcomer Ojw Legacy also drawn low on the far side, a further three lengths back in third.

McCreery said, "The run in Galway educated her a lot. She ran a lovely race there and she came on a lot from that. Another median auction race seemed the obvious thing to do.

"I thought it might have been a bit sharp for her, but she hit the line well. She did everything well and is from a lovely family. Steve Fisher owns her and he has the mare, so hopefully it is onwards and upwards.

"That will probably be it for this year and we will try and get a bit of black-type next year.

"We'll educate her because she is lovely and lazy. She is very, very lazy and does nothing at home. She is a lovely filly to train and she will teach herself as she goes along. Nothing excites her.

"She was very professional today, but she is just a lovely, lazy filly and every race will educate her more."

Quotes by Michael Graham