'Extraordinary mare' wins for celeb who's-who

Augusta Kate continued a family trait when maintaining her unbeaten record in the concluding Listed Coolmore N.H. Sires European Breeders Fund Mares Bumper at Navan today, winning for a who's-who list of celebrity and sporting greats.

The daughter of Yeats is out of undefeated Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle winner Feathard Lady and having sauntered to a debut win at Listowel in September, hadn't much more to do today when easily beating 14 rivals.

The winner carries the colours of the Masters Syndicate, whose members include Ant and Dec (English comedy pair Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly), top sports agent Chubby Chandler, golfer Lee Westwood, retired soccer player Alan Shearer and leading owners Graham and Andrea Wylie.

Augusta Kate is also trained by Willie Mullins and having won under the Champion Trainer's son and Champion Amateur Jockey Patrick Mullins, Mullins senior stated "she's an extraordinary mare to do what she did against a really good field.

"I thought it was a very good race on paper. She shows very little at home but comes alive on the racetrack.

"She's only a four-year-old and we may give her a break and come back for Aintree and Punchestown. Looking at her pedigree, I would rather go hurdling than stay on the flat and, if she takes after her mother, she could be a nice novice next year."

Augusta Kate's win was completing a double on the day for trainer Mullins whose Douvan earlier made a winning chase debut.

By Tom Weekes quotes from Alan Magee