Airlie Beach and Kate Harrington© Photo Healy Racing
In-foal Airlie Beach is expected to have her first runner as a broodmare in the coming weeks and the Grade 1 winner collected a eighth career win at Tramore today as the Willie Mullins trained Galway Hurdle-third landed the concluding Seanie Colfer Construction (Ladies) Maiden.
Ridden by Kate Harrington today, the daughter of Shantou was briefly challenged by nearest pursuer Decision Time entering the dip on the final circuit but her task was simplified as Decision Time hung off that bend and eventually faded to finish sixth. Airlie Beach (3/10f) didn’t win on the bridle, as may have been expected, but did nonetheless win comfortably from Game Puppeteer
Airlie Beach’s interesting past saw her give birth to a colt foal as a four year old. Her field-mate at the time French-bred Miguel Angel, a subsequent low-grade and gelded winner over hurdles for Mullins, had been mistaken for a gelding at the time and covered Airlie Beach, who then produced a colt foal.
Following Airlie Beach’s win today, Mullins confirmed her son to be on target for an upcoming debut run, saying “her son is working well at home and will be probably be out next month."
Regarding future plans for Airlie Beach, who is now in-foal to Mount Nelson Mullins added “I think she has another good while to go so I'll see if there is anything else for her - I wouldn't be pulling the plug on her yet.
“She did it well and did it the hard way and three or four horses took her on during the race but she was in her comfort zone the whole time.
“Kate said once she saw the other horse (Decision Time) on her outside coming down the hill she pulled away again. She had a very good run in Galway and we'll see how she is when we get home and see what's left in the calendar, but I'd imagine it'd be another Flat race.”
Quotes from Donal Murphy
