Viztoria is driven out by Johnny Murtagh to beat Bunairgead on the inside© Photo Healy Racing
Viztoria remains on course for the 1000 Guineas after she took the Group 3 Canford Cliffs EBF Athasi Stakes at the Curragh this afternoon.
The Eddie Lynam trained daughter of Oratorio won her two starts in Ireland in impressive fashion last season before she went down a length in a Group 2 contest at Maisons-Laffitte in November.
Back on home soil today she was sent off the even money favourite under Johnny Murtagh.
Settled towards the rear she was sixth at the halfway stage before she was switching right, soon making good headway on the outside.
She hit the front inside the final furlong and was pushed out from there to score by a length at the line from Bunairgead in second at 10/1 under Kevin Manning for Jim Bolger.
The Ralph Beckett trained English challenger, Moonstone Magic was a length and three parts back in third under Pat Smullen at 5/2.
Eddie Lynam said afterwards; "It was a nice trial. We had three questions that needed answering today. One, had she trained on and she has. Two, would she get seven furlongs, and she did and three, is she worth taking a chance on in the Guineas and she is.
"I wouldn’t jump up and down about the form but the manner of victory was good.
"Johnny was happy with her and her trainer is not unhappy.
"We can dream for another twenty days and get a bit more mileage out of her."
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
