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Sonja too strong for older rivals

American Sonja and Dylan Browne McMonagleAmerican Sonja and Dylan Browne McMonagle
© Photo Healy Racing

American Sonja proved too strong for her elders when making a winning return in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (Fillies) Handicap at Gowran Park.

The Joseph O'Brien-trained daughter of Tasleet had finished on a winning note last season and went to post 11/8 favourite on her comeback run.

She was held up by Dylan Browne McMonagle in the seven-furlong contest before coming to challenge between horses a furlong-and-a-half from home.

Having hit the front passing the furlong pole the three-year-old soon asserted to record a three-and-a-quarter-length win over All Lies Ahead

Assistant Brendan Powell said afterwards:-“That was a good performance and they went a decent gallop. She settles well and you can put her where you like.

“This time of the year it is hard against the older horses but it was a good performance. She is definitely a stakes filly.

“She was tall last year but has filled out this year and is a bigger, stronger filly.”

The winner has entries in the Group 3 Athasi Stakes and the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh next month.

(Quotes by Alan Magee)

1st
11/8Fav
Tote €2.38 €1.10
2nd
3.25L
10/3
€1.40
3rd
1.75L
10/1
€4.70
4th
1.5L
20/1
About Gary Carson
Gary started out as a trainee/assistant journalist with the Sporting Life newspaper and has worked in the racing industry for over 25 years. He has been with the Press Association since 2013 and won the Irish Field Nap Table in 2016. He enjoys working with horses and trained his own horse, Mamaslittlestar, to win a point-to-point in 2019.