Unbeaten Walk In The Park Mare Wins Listed Bumper

Friday saw Aurora Vega (5m Walk In The Park - Quevega, by Robin Des Champs) extend her unbeaten record in the Listed Mares’ Bumper at Gowran Park.

The Willie Mullins-trained mare won her first two starts by a combined 22 lengths, but faced stiffer opposition and softer ground on her first start in black-type company. Sent off favourite under Paddy Mullins, she raced in touch throughout and improved to lead after the two furlong marker. Ridden clear inside the final furlong, she was pushed out to score by three lengths.

“She keeps improving,” the winning rider said after the race. “She has a lot to live up to but she is doing it at the moment. I'd be hoping we might aim her at the good bumpers in the spring at the likes of the Dublin Racing Festival, Aintree and Punchestown.”

Owned and bred by the Hammer & Trowel Syndicate, Aurora Vega becomes the second black-type winner from three runners produced by top racemare Quevega. The other is four-time Grade 1 winner Facile Vega (Walk In The Park), while there is a four-year-old filly by Camelot and three-year-old filly by Australia yet to race.