Daughter Of Westerner Makes All To Second Success

Vicki Vale (6m Westerner - Byerley Sophie, by Flemensfirth) gained a deserved return to winning ways on Thursday when making all to win the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Taunton.

The daughter of Westerner was narrowly denied on her sole start as a four-year-old for Aidan Fitzgerald and made an impressive rules debut for Dan Skelton earlier this season. Runner-up twice since then, she was sent off favourite at Taunton and led from flag-fall under Tristan Durrell. Ridden from the second last, she kept on well on the run-in to deny her nearest market rival by a length and a quarter. The rest of the field finished strung out behind them.

Bred by Byerley Stud, Vicki Vale is owned by Bullen-Smith and Faulks.