Listed win for unbeaten Footsteps 2yo

Sandiva (2f Footstepsinthesand-Miss Corinne, by Mark Of Esteem), trained by Richard Fahey in North Yorkshire, made the long visit to Naas worthwhile on Monday when bagging a Listed success.

The Footstepsinthesand filly won by six lengths on her debut at Nottingham last month and saw off a classy field to win the Listed Coolmore Stud EBF Fillies' Sprint Stakes by two lengths in the colours of Middleham Park Racing. The six-furlong contest was last year won by subsequent 1,000 Guineas winner Sky Lantern.

BetVictor quoted Sandiva at 20/1 to win next year’s 1,000 Guineas while Stan James make her 5/1 favourite to win the G3 Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot.

“She did the talking there and I´d have been surprised if she had been beat. We think she is smart. She has a huge stride on her and is probably still a bit raw. We are excited and we´ll look at the Albany,” Fahey told the Racing Post.

Jockey Pat Smullen added: “She is a smart filly. She seemed to change her legs a bit on the ground in the closing stages but travelled great.”

Sandiva, who comes from the family of Sir Percy, was bred by Denis McDonnell and sold for what now looks a bargain £18,000 at the Doncaster Premier Yearling Sale.