Friendless Aspect takes Listed honours

Sacred Aspect got up in the closing stages to deny the 1/2 favourite Abbakova in the feature race at Tipperary this afternoon, the Listed Danehill Dancer Tipperary Stakes.

The Ken Condon trained grey daughter of Haatef won her maiden at Leopardstown on her second start in May and she ran in the Group 2 Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot on her last start.

Drawn in stall one there she finished a respectable twelfth of nineteen behind the impressive winner Kiyoshi.

Dropped back in trip to five furlongs for the first time today, she chased the leaders in the early stages and was driven along in fourth at the halfway stage.

She made headway under pressure and squeezed between horses inside the final furlong, staying on well to hit the front in the final 50 yards and going on to win by a length at the line.

The Willie McCreery trained ‘jolly’ had to settle for second under Pat Smullen, while his other runner, Hurryupharriet finished third.

John Murphy saddled the other three runners in the race and they occupied the last three places.

The winner was the 2/1 second favourite with Paddy Power last night but she was totally friendless in the market, opening on-course at 13/2 before going off at 7/1.

Ken Condon said afterwards: "They went very quick up front and after a furlong she was off the bridle a bit. Ideally she wants seven.

"We weren’t too disappointed by her run at Royal Ascot, she was drawn in one and it was the wrong place to be on the day.

"She is in the Silver Flash Stakes on Thursday but that will come too soon. She is also in the Debutante Stakes and the Moyglare but she may have a run before going for them.

"She may also have to improve to run in those races. She has size and scope and when they have that, they can improve.

"She changed ownership after she won her maiden and it was good that she stayed in the yard.

"She is owned by Englishman Simon Millington and he is based in Hong Kong."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes