Ms Agartha Yeats jumps the last in front of Laravie© Photo Healy Racing
Ms Agartha Yeats completed a 74/1 treble for Darragh O'Keeffe, as she sprang a surprise in the five-runner Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Hurdle.
Successful at Cork in August, Aurora Vega (1/10f) was widely expected to take this two and a half mile contest, however she quickly faded early on the final circuit and pulled up before four out.
A winner on debut at Wexford almost two years ago, the successful Yeats six-year-old was returned an 8/1 chance on what was her debut for Finbar Hand.
Closer in second from five out, she wasn’t fluent at the third last but improved into a share of the lead over the next.
Soon ridden, the now dual winner edged to the front approaching the last and kept on well in the closing stages to prevail by three quarters of a length.
Left in front when the favourite began to fade before five out, Laravie (40/1) ran a huge race to finish second under Ben Harvey, battling on gamely when headed before the last.
"Finbar said to me beforehand that she can be a little bit keen and she was a little bit in my hands over the first couple of hurdles, but she jumped really well," O’Keeffe, who was earlier successful on Jasko Des Dames and Empire Succes revealed.
"I just followed Paul and Ben Harvey. I could see jumping the last with a circuit to race that Paul wasn't happy and obviously with her being out of it, it opened up things.
"She showed a good attitude, jumped the last two well and kept galloping well to the line. I'd say the slower ground helped her as well, for a small filly she seemed to handle it quite well.
"Finbar had her good and fit and he said to me beforehand that she'd enjoy the slower conditions if they came and thankfully they did.
"I'm delighted she got the job done and it was a good training performance.
"Some of her form reads well and we were looking up against it, but with the favourite out of it she probably had as much to offer as anything in the race and probably still looked a bit unexposed after being out for quite a while."
Successful in the following race, Townend reflected on the disappointing favourite, saying: "She was dossing away early on and a horse came and kept me company for a while but I knew jumping the last with a circuit to go.
"We faced up to the next one and she wasn't taking me. It's obviously too bad to be true and she came back in okay. She seems physically fine but we'll just have to see."
STEWARDS REPORTS
The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Aurora Vega, trained by W.P. Mullins, at the request of the Raceday Stewards and reported the animal to be clinically abnormal post race. Samples were taken for further analysis.
P. Townend, rider of Aurora Vega, trained by W.P. Mullins, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount stopped quickly.
