Flying Jib and Pat Smullen pictured on their way to victory from Chicago Girl back in second© Photo Healy Racing
Flying Jib followed up on her maiden win at Dundalk as she took the Listed Staffordstown Stud Stakes under Pat Smullen for Dermot Weld.
The Jaber Abdullah owned roan filly finished fourth to Glassatura on her debut over six furlongs back in May, but she got off the mark over seven on her next start at Dundalk, beating Tap Dancing by a convincing four and a quarter lengths.
Stepped up again to a mile, the daughter of Oasis Dream was 7/2 last night with Paddy Power, but she drifted out to a starting price of 5/1.
Settled in fourth, she was third two furlongs out, and she was pushed along to close a furlong and a half from home.
She was ridden to challenge on the outside from a furlong out, soon hitting the front, keeping on well in the closing stages to score by a length and a half. Chicago Girl (13/8) looked the most likely winner over a furlong out, but she couldn’t match Flying Jib in the closing stages, and she had to settle for second for trainer/jockey Johnny Murtagh. Dazzling was sent off the 11/10 favourite for Joseph and Aidan O’Brien but she could only manage third, two and a quarter lengths back.
Dermot Weld said afterwards: "That was a very pleasing performance. She won easily on the polytrack at Dundalk and I thought this would be a nice race for her provided the ground stayed good.
"She is a good actioned filly and she wants good ground. I think you’ll find that the first three are all smart fillies.
"That might be it for this year although I’ll have to speak to Lord Grimthorpe (Jaber Abdullah's racing manager). I mentioned to him that we might consider the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.
"She is very adaptable having won at Dundalk and here, and she loves top of the ground. She is a lovely filly to look forward to next spring and a mile is her trip."
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
