Via Sistina opens up for Jamie Spencer© Photo Healy Racing
British-raider Via Sistina scooted away from her rivals to post her first Group 1 success in the Yulong Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh.
This was trainer George Boughey's first winner in Ireland and it was confirmed after a stewards' enquiry when a closing Via Sistina leaned in on Rosscarbery approaching the final furlong. Rosscarbery became the meat in the sandwich between Stay Alert and Via Sistina and had nowhere to go in fifth.
Via Sistina continued her progress to claim Above The Curve inside the final furlong and the 6/4 favourite ran on well to move two lengths clear of a keeping-on Stay Alert (25/1). Above The Curve dropped to third at 16/5.
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Jockey Jamie Spencer said: "I was very concerned the way the track was playing today, an even last night, it was suiting horses on the pace.
"I had a plan to jump smartly, get up behind Ryan (Moore on Above The Curve) third or fourth. She didn't jump and my first thing was to get out and don't get stuck down the fence. I was on about Plan E at that stage.
"If I had known the way she was going to accelerate, I probably would have ridden her with more confidence.
"She loves soft ground and with that wind it is drying out. Everything was happening a bit quick off the top of the hill. Just when I got inside the '4' (pole), she grabbed hold of the bit and I said 'we are in business now'.
"She leaned in a bit early in the straight and, obviously, halfway down the straight but she was much the best. I only had to give her one flick and she had her ears pricked the last furlong."
Owner Stephen Hillen added: “It doesn't happen like that very often.
“I just hope she's going to be alright in there (stewards' room). If it was in England I'd say she'll be fine as she won by two lengths.
“That's probably as fast a ground as she wants to run on. Jamie said they went really quick, he said he missed the break and was a bit far out of her ground.
“She's that big she wears a rug for stalls entry and when you wear a rug they are always a bit slow away.
“He was a bit further back than he wanted to be, but he just said when she comes good she's just much better than them.”
On her 5,000 guineas purchase price, he added: “She was foal share and she wasn't protected, basically she went in with no reserve.
“I had seen her a couple of times and she had a great action, but she's nearly 17 hands and she looked pretty backward. You needed a fair bit of imagination because she looked like she needed a long time, she was either going to be good or very slow.
“I looked at her in the first place because of the (pedigree) cross. I think it's about ten per cent Group 1 winners (from Fastnet Rock out of Galileo mares). It's a good stat and I wasn't really doing anything smart.
“I was obviously going to give a lot more than five grand for her, but it was just one of those things, there was no-one else there.
“She's very versatile, I think she can go a mile to a mile-and-a-half. She likes going in a straight line as well so she could go to the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket in 13 days time.
“After that there is the Nassau and she'll be in most of the big races. She's in the Yorkshire Oaks and the International at York.
“You wouldn't be risking her on anything with firm in it.”
On whether she could be sold eventually, he said: “I don't know, my wife is fairly attached to her.”
Paddy Power made Via Sistina 5/2jf from 4/1 for the Falmouth and 7/2 from 7/1 for the Nassau Stakes. The bookmaker also halved her from 20/1 to 10/1 for the Yorkshire Oaks and cut her from 20/1 to 12/1 for the Juddmonte International.
The Raceday Stewards enquired into possible interference in the final furlong involving Above The Curve (USA), ridden by R.L. Moore, placed third, Rosscarbery (GER), ridden by W.J. Lee, placed fourth, Stay Alert (GB), ridden by R.P. Whelan, placed second, and Via Sistina, ridden by J.P. Spencer, placed first, where it appeared Via Sistina shifted onto Rosscarbery who in turn shifted onto Stay Alert (GB). Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. R.L. Moore stated that his filly was weakening when she received contact on her quarters and was turned sideways. W.J. Lee stated that he sat in third following Above The Curve (USA), his filly was keeping going when Via Sistina came down the outside and he checked badly. R.P. Whelan stated he was riding his filly cold when he got a bump from his outside and tried to regain his momentum. J.P. Spencer stated that his filly starts to lean right in the straight but he corrected her and his filly leaned on Rosscarbery but felt there was interference coming from the inside also. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Raceday Stewards were of the opinion that while Via Sistina had caused interference to Rosscarbery she did not improve her finishing position as a result of this interference so they made no alteration to the Judge’s placings. They were, however, of the opinion that J.P. Spencer, was in breach of Rule 214 in that he had ridden carelessly and having considered his record in this regard the Raceday Stewards suspended him for six race days.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
