Tough Barefoot steps up to mark for Footsteps

The admirable Barefoot Lady (4f Footstepsinthesand-Lady Angharad, by Tenby) saw off a competitive field to win the Listed EBF Stobart PJA Testimonial Lyric Fillies’ Stakes at York on Friday night.

The Footsteps filly, who has made the first four in 13 of her 17 starts, won last season’s G3 Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket and went on to finish third in the G1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.

She has continued to show great consistency this season and rallied to win this extended 10-furlong contest.

Connections could now step Barefoot Lady, who was bred by Arbawny Ventures, up in grade again for the G1 Matron Stakes at Leopardstown in September.

"Barefoot Lady deserved that. She’s the toughest filly in the yard. We might look at the Matron Stakes in Ireland again for her," trainer Richard Fahey’s assistant Robin O’Ryan told www.racingpost.com