Hunaina is ridden out by Pat Smullen to beat Fior Cliste© Photo Healy Racing
Hunaina was the fourth winner in-a-row to make all at Leopardstown this evening, as she took the Riptide Movement Handicap under Pat Smullen for Mick Halford.
Second four times in succession last season, the daughter of Tamayuz finally got off the mark at Dundalk in September.
She finished seventh and sixth on her first two runs this year, but went down by just half a length when second on her most recent start on June 20th.
Upped in trip to seven furlongs today, she was sent off a 6/1 chance.
Sent straight to the front, she was ridden over a furlong out, and kept on well from there to score by three parts of a length. Fior Cliste was sent off the well-backed 6/4 favourite (from 2s), and try as she might, she couldn't reel in the winner, and had to settle for second under Kevin Manning for Jim Bolger.
"She's very consistent. Pat just said to me beforehand that he didn't think there was much pace and he said 'I might let her roll along'. He got the tactics right," said Halford.
"He's terrific in front. When he read the form, obviously he knew what he was looking at, and he thought it looked the night to try it.
"She's used to leading Rehana at home all the time so we knew she'd go in front. It's nice to win another one with her.
"Conor Hoban, when he rode her the last day, said 'I wouldn't be afraid to step this one up'. It was a team effort.
"I'll talk to Pat (Downes) and see if we can find a three-year-old fillies handicap for her."
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
