Mark Nunan
Beret Rouge now two from two in bumpers
Beret Rouge and Patrick Mullins
© Photo Healy Racing
Reverting back from hurdles, the 2/1 jt-fav Beret Rouge won the concluding Dr. Louis O'Carroll (Pro/Am) Flat Race under Patrick Mullins.
The daughter of Big Bad Bob travelled well before hitting the front over a furlong out. She quickly asserted and ran on well to beat Nancy Wise (10/1) and fellow 2/1 jt-fav Bardenstown Lad by two and a quarter lengths and half a length.
Trained by Willie Mullins, the 6-year-old easily won a Roscommon bumper on debut last summer before having a couple of outings over hurdles, the first of which saw her finish runner-up having jumped poorly at the Harvest Festival here in September.
The winning rider remarked: "My mother (Jackie Mullins) bought the dam and she won four and this is her first foal and her second Wearapinkribbon has also won.
"Jackie rides her out every day at home and it was Jackie who made Willie go back for a winners' bumper so I owe her for that!
"She's not very big and I'm not sure she was right last year; she is moving a lot better now and I'd expect her to jump a lot better.
"The next black-type bumper is October so it is a long way away and I'd imagine she'll find it hard to carry a double winners' penalty. She could go jumping now and Jackie deserves all the credit with her."
Quotes from Thomas Weekes