Progressive Australia Filly Lands Listed Feature

Countess Of Tyrone (4f Australia – Affirmative, by Pivotal) maintained an upward curve to register a breakthrough black-type success in the Listed His Majesty’s Plate at Down Royal on Friday.

Trained by Paddy Twomey for owner/breeder Robert Moran, the daughter of Australia won a Galway maiden in good style on debut in August, and was last seen finishing second in the Listed Vintage Tipple Stakes. Stepping up to two miles on Friday, she raced prominently under Billy Lee and improved to lead before the two furlong pole. Ridden approaching the final furlong, she kept on well to prevail by a neck on the line. The favourite Party Central (Yeats) took third.

“I'm delighted the way she did it,” said the winning trainer. “Her brother was good and she's a nice filly. It is great to win a stakes race with her and hopefully she can continue in these stakes races.”

The brother Twomey referred to is Earl Of Tyrone (Australia), himself a Listed winner and third in the valuable Ebor Handicap.