Versace Twentytwo (inside) and Hey Sunshine battle it out approaching the line© Photo Healy Racing
Charlotte Butler was seen to good effect, as she guided Versace Twentyone to a surprise success in the concluding Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares (Ladies Pro/Am) INH Flat Race.
Out of a half-sister to Royal Rendezvous and previously in the care of Amy Parsons, the daughter of Kingston Hill was still in front when falling four out on her latest point-to-point start at Stradbally in May.
On what was her debut for Gordon Elliott, the grey five-year-old was sent off a 20/1 chance and was settled behind the leaders on the outer.
Sweeping to the front approaching the end of the back straight, the winner soon skipped clear.
While she appeared a sitting duck when closed upon by Hey Sunshine inside the final two-furlongs, she battled back gamely when narrowly headed, regaining the lead inside the final 50 yards before going on to prevail by three-quarters of a length in the colours of the Little Emperor Syndicate.
Returned the 6/5 favourite, the aforementioned Hey Sunshine had to settle for second under Jody Townend for Willie Mullins, while the Liz Doyle-trained Former Flame (10/1) was another nine-lengths away in third.
"Turning in she just stayed going and to be fair when Jody's horse came alongside me she battled on very well all the way to the line," Butler reflected.
“Her form pointing hasn't been amazing but she was travelling very well the last time in Stradbally when she unluckily fell. I was confident coming in that she'd run a strong race.
"She kind of strode on (before the bend), I knew what I had under me. I was very pleased, she stayed going well."
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
