The Last Indian breaks her duck in Tipperary© Photo Healy Racing
Pat Smullen looked a significant booking for The Last Indian and so it proved as he drove the four-year-old filly home in Tipperary.
The daughter of Captain Rio had uninspiring form figures of 000809 but it was a very different story this evening in Division Two of the extended seven furlong handicap.
Smullen drove the 9/1 shot into contention over a furlong from home and she kept at it well to see off Lake George by a length and three quarters. Free To Roam was another length and a quarter away in third at 8/1.
Trainer Aidan Howard said: "Last season she was very weak in herself and took time to come to hand. Since I gave her three runs over hurdles, she is after strengthening up and the ease in the ground helped today.
"Pat (Smullen) actually sat on her a couple of times and thought she would have a squeak coming here today. She is a half-sister to Enter The Indian, who is a grand little horse and was a winner of seven or eight races.
"She is rated 35 but ran off 45 today and has a hurdles rating of 84, so we'll give her another couple of spins on the flat and then hope to go autumn hurdling."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
