Dunlop delighted by filly's 40-1 win
She stormed home in a style that was a pleasure to see, snatching victory by a length and ridden superbly by jockey Tom Queally. The victory was all the more remarkable because the filly fractured a femur last year and never ran as a two-year old.
Trained at Castle Stables, Arundel, she has strong West Sussex connections, having been bred and raised at Lavington Stud, near Petworth, out of Pivotal and by Kootenay '“ a dam that herself was a smart triple winner.
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Hide AdHer owner is Capt John Macdonald-Buchanan who with his son, Alastair, owns the stud. The family has been involved in racing and breeding for more than 100 years, and Capt Macdonald-Buchanan's grandfather, Lord Woolavington, founded the stud in 1890.
Dunlop said: "She is a nice filly and ran well first time out at Newmarket over seven furlongs last month. She has a good attitude and a nice character. I thought she would finish fourth or fifth today and I am delighted by her win."
Another local horse to note for the future is Kokkokila, a four-year-old filly trained by Lady Herries at Angmering Park, who finished a good second in the one mile three furlong stakes handicap.
Before the race, Lady Herries said: "She ran well, though unplaced last time out. She needs to settle because she ran too freely that day and and was overtaken in the final stages. She will have her day this season."
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Hide AdHer run last week was only her sixth and she was given an excellent ride by one of the top apprentices, Kirsty Milczarek, who settled her in and bided her time before making a run.
She was unlucky to find one too good in four-times previous winner Dove Cottage on this occasion but should go on to win.