Usdi Atohi and Gavin Ryan © Photo Healy Racing
Usdi Atohi belied odds of 20/1 when coming with a renewed effort close home to get back up to win the Listed Coolmore Ten Sovereigns Tipperary Stakes.
Having made a winning debut on the all-weather at Dundalk back in April, the Donnacha O'Brien trained filly proved rather disappointing when last of six at Naas on her next start.
Off the track since that aforementioned race over 6f, the daughter of Ten Sovereigns benefitted both from the break and dropping back to the minimum trip here.
Smartly into stride under Gavin Ryan, the outsider tracked leader Shamrock Breeze for the opening couple of furlongs before moving up to dispute two out.
Coming through to lead over a furlong from the finish, she was soon headed by the Andrew Slattery trained Powerful Nation who went on 150 yards from home.
However, to her credit, the eventual winner found plenty for pressure, staying on again inside the final 50 yards to get back up for a neck win.
Donnacha O’Brien said: “We thought she was a good filly and the form of her maiden worked out very well. She was a bit disappointing in Naas but she took a very bad step at one of the ridges and Gavin was easy on her then.
“This looked a competitive race but thankfully she’s bounced back to form.
“A stiff six furlongs probably stretched her so we said we’d let her bowl over five as she did in her maiden and it’s worked out. We’ll find a Group race for her.”
Additional reporting by Alan Magee.
