Saval Beg heroine Miss Gold Cup bound Missunited bounced back to her best to go a place better on last year's runner-up effort in the Listed Seamus & Rosemary McGrath Memorial Saval Beg Stakes at Leopardstown and she's now Royal Ascot bound. In the hands of Kevin Manning for the first time the Golan mare made all. She had to raise her effort from the three furlong pole as Chris Hayes moved up to challenge on Sir Ector. That one's effort quickly petered out but Missunited's big rivals arrived with their challenges in the straight as Eye Of The Storm, Tarana and 16/1 chance Shu Lewis came with their bids. However Missunited is nothing if not tough and she ground it out to defeat Shu Lewis, Tarana and Eye Of The Storm by three parts of a length, one and a quarter lengths and two and a quarter lengths. Winning trainer Mick Winters reflected: "I think her stride is bigger this year. She seems to be pointing out her toe longer. "John Supple rode her in two pieces of work – in Patsy Byrnes' place - and he felt she was going well. "Kevin rode a lovely even pace through the race. "She'll go now for the Ascot Gold Cup. "Vanessa (Hutch, winning owner) said there's suits in Kanturk so I said to her you get one and I'll wear it." C.D. Hayes, rider of Sir Ector (USA) trained by J.J.Lambe, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount ran very keen. (AM & EM)
