Aruntothequeen and Harry Swan.© Photo Healy Racing
A maiden coming into the race, the Jessica Harrington trained Aruntothequeen dented some lofty reputations when causing a 25/1 upset in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mucklemeg Mares INH Flat Race (Listed Race) at Gowran Park.
Following placed efforts at Tipperary, Punchestown and Killarney respectively, the five-year-old looked up against it here, taking on an octet of previous winners off level weights.
However, as each of the contenders dropped away one by one, turning into the straight with over two furlongs to race, only long time leader and race favourite Mozzies Sister was ahead of the Harrington trained mare.
Getting to that latter horse over a furlong out, Aruntothequeen battled bravely inside the last, staying on strongly to win by three lengths.
“I always knew she was good. That was a good race, they went a proper gallop and she just stays really well,” said Jessica Harrington.
“She's taken all this time to grow into that frame, you can see how big she is. She probably should have won in Killarney, the ground really went against her that night.
“I told Harry (Swan) to make plenty of use of her and when you get down the hill let her roll on. I said that she'll stay every yard of it.
“She was impressive and they were a long way ahead of the third.
“She'll go on over hurdles now, a two-and-a-half mile maiden hurdle.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson.
