Bocca Baciata wins Salabil Stakes

The Jessica Harrington trained Bocca Baciata put herself in line for top level prizes later this summer with an impressive win in the featured Listed Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Salsabil Stakes at Navan today.

The daughter of Big Bad Bob had previously been successful over a mile at this venue in October and readily made a winning seasonal reappearance today under Fran Berry, travelling well into contention before quickening clear for a length and a half win over Pleascach

Harrington, whose High Tail It attracted the attentions of the Stewards at Tipperary yesterday, later stated "Fran (Berry) did the right thing by pulling her to the outside and got her relaxed. I've never seen a horse travel so well to the last two furlongs and it looked a good test and a good race.

"She was very big last year but filled out and strengthened up. She has a really really good temperament and hopefully she has stopped growing now.

"She's in the Blue Wind Stakes, the Irish Guineas, the Epsom and Irish Oaks and a race over a mile and a quarter in France so we'll see what the summer holds. If the ground got softer that wouldn't bother her."

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Alan Magee