The talented Vespertilio (Night Of Thunder) added a second Black Type success to her record with victory in the six-furlong Listed Jebel Ali Racecourse & Stables Dash Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday.
Trained by Willie McCreery, the daughter of Night Of Thunder was a talented juvenile, winning the seven-furlong Group 2 Debutante Stakes at the Curragh before a second in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes over the same course and distance. Her performances as a juvenile warranted a Group 1 campaign at three-years-old and she placed third in last year's Poule d'Essai des Pouliches before disappointing in both the Irish 1000 Guineas and the Prix Jean Prat.
With sights considerably lowered for the filly's four-year-old campaign, she came back to sprinting distances at lower levels, finishing a credible second in the Listed Cork Stakes on seasonal reappearance. Beaten only a length in the Group 2 Greenlands Stakes, connections chose to return to the same course and distance for the Dash.
Settled towards the rear by Dylan Browne Mcmonagle, the filly made encouraging progress in the final furlong and engaged in a battle with her main rival, My Mate Alfie, in the closing stages to secure the win by a short head. King Cuan finished third.
Dylan Browne McMonagle told Racing TV: "She got there and I felt like she was going to win a neck, and then when she gets there she just thinks the job is done and she just shuts down a little bit. The last day she pinged the gates and I got left in front and that's not the way she needs to be rode. She's got so much pace when you kick her into gear, she's able to pick them up in a couple of strides but hopefully she can build on that now she's back up in grade. That's definitely the way to ride her - to just land her on the line - the later the better!"
Ed Dunlop's Skukuza returned to the scene of his triumphant premier handicap win at the Irish Guineas meeting to make a successful step up in grade, winning the 1m Listed Celebration Stakes.
Lightly raced at two and three-years-old, the son of Blue Point had struggled on his first two starts of the season over seven-furlongs before returning to his preferred mile for a success in the QuinnBet Emerald Mile Handicap. With conditions expected to suit again, Dunlop made the decision to try his talented colt in Stakes company for the first time and booked the talents of Ryan Moore.
It was a typical Ryan Moore ride at the Curragh, with Skukuza dominating from the front throughout before being asked to extend his advantage in the closing furlong. He recorded a comfortable two-and-a-quarter length success over Alakazi, with Currawood a further one-and-three-quarter lengths back in third.
Skukuza holds entries in various heritage handicaps in the UK over the next few months; the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket, the International Handicap at Ascot and the Golden Mile at Glorious Goodwood.
