Walk In The Park Mares Complete Graded Double
Aurora Vega (7m Walk In The Park – Quevega, by Robin Des Champs) kicked off a Graded double for Walk In The Park on Saturday when justifying favouritism in the Grade 3 Solerina Mares Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse.
The Willie Mullins-trained mare came into the race with two wins from three starts over hurdles, all of which came under Saturday’s rider Paul Townend. The Hammer & Trowel Syndicate’s homebred took close order in the two mile and two furlong feature, asserted on the turn for home, and was ridden clear before the final flight. She kept on well to score by a length and three quarters, as Dream On Baby (Walk In The Park) took second, finishing six and a half lengths clear of the third.
“I was really taken by that performance,” Willie Mullins commented. “I thought Aurora Vega would come on a lot for the last day but I was not expecting her to do that. She looks like one we might keep for the 2m4f Grade 1 mares hurdle here at Easter. That would be foremost in my mind.”
It marked a second black-type win for Aurora Vega, who previously won a Listed mares’ bumper and placed in a Grade 3 bumper. A six-time winner from nine career starts, she is an own-sister to dual Grade 1 winner Facile Vega (Walk In The Park).
Later that afternoon, Jetara (7m Walk In The Park – Jelan, by Milan) gained her fifth black-type win in the Grade 2 Yorkshire Rose Mares’ Hurdle at Doncaster.
Jessica Harrington’s raider chased the leader for much of the three mile contest under James Bowen and produced a challenge at the third last. Soon in front, she dug deep on the run-in to deny the favourite Kateira by a head, the pair rallying seven and a half lengths clear of the remainder.
Representing the winning trainer, Kate Harrington later said: “Jetara was second to Ballyburn at Punchestown and she had rock-solid form last season. The step up to three miles and the cheekpieces really helped. Onwards to Cheltenham, she's in the mares' hurdle and the three-miler.”
Owned and bred by Gerard McGrath, the three-time Grade 1-placed mare is out of an own-sister to the top-class Jezki (Milan).