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Donal Murphy
Tested impresses in Tipperary feature
Tested and Pat Smullen run out comfortable winners
© Photo Healy Racing
Tested ran out an impressive winner of the feature at Tipperary this evening, the Group 3 Coolmore Stud Fairy Bridge Stakes, providing her trainer and rider, Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen, with a double on the card (earlier won with Zafilani .
The three-year-old daughter of Selkirk won a Listed contest at Naas in June but was beaten half a length by Dalkova when sent off the 8/11 favourite on her next start in the Listed Corrib Stakes at Galway.
Sent off a 2/1 joint-favourite to make amends this evening she tracked the leader in second and improved to lead two furlongs from home.
She soon kicked clear and kept on well from over a furlong out when ridden to score by four lengths at the line.
One Spirit, who attempted to make all, ran a fine race to finish second at 10/1 under Colin Keane for Ger Lyons while Purr Along the other joint-favourite, could only manage a disappointing sixth under Jamie Spencer for Johnny Murtagh.
Pat Smullen said afterwards: "We always held her in high regard and that is why I rode her in the Guineas. The ground is the key to her and on top of the ground she is able to accelerate.
"Seven furlongs is the right trip for her and she seems to have got more pace as she has got older."
Kris Weld added: "She won very well at Naas and then she enjoyed her break and possibly needed the run at Galway and she has come forward again from that run.
"This run was always the target and I don’t know where she will go next. Dad will talk to Lord Grimthorpe to see whether she will stay in training next year.
"She has been improving all year and is basically a good filly."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes