'I was not expecting her to do that' - Aurora Vega surprises Willie Mullins with impressive Solerina display

It would not have surprised many had Willie Mullins saddled the one-two-three in the feature SBK Solerina Mares Hurdle, such was the strength of his challenge. 

But after Baby Kate and Fancy Girl ran below par it needed an improved performance from Aurora Vega for the champion trainer to land the Grade 3 race for the fourth year in a row and the seventh in the last ten years.

Giving weight to all her rivals, the diminutive daughter of Walk In The Park and the great Quevega kept going from the last under Paul Townend to hold off the challenge of 10-1 shot Dream On Baby by a length and three-quarters.

Paddy Power cut her to 14-1 (from 33) for the Mares' Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham, but Mullins revealed that may not be the plan and she may stay at home. 

He said: "I was really taken by that performance. I thought she would come on a lot for the last day, but I was not expecting her to do that. She looks like one we might keep for the 2m4f Grade 1 mares' hurdle here at Easter. That would be foremost in my mind." 

Kawaboomga stakes his claim

The champion trainer completed a double in a hot maiden hurdle with the JP McManus-owned Kawaboomga. Barry Connell's William Munny challenged but Mark Walsh's mount won cosily by a length and a half.

Mullins said: "He did that very well. He came on nicely for his experience at Leopardstown and he looks to me like a horse that will stay further. He is entered in all of the novice hurdles at Cheltenham, but from looking at that, and from talking to Mark, my thinking would be to aim him at the Turners Novices' Hurdle at this point.

"I just thought between the fourth-last and the third-last that Mark was just niggling away at him. Maybe he had no company at that stage and he was just idling, but he was doing his best work from the last. That, and his pedigree, leads me to believe that stamina will not be a problem."

Sort strikes for Queally

After saddling a double at Gowran Park on Thursday, Declan Queally continued his excellent form when partnering I'll Sort That to a game victory in the concluding bumper. Seventh in a Cork maiden hurdle in December, he coped well on his bumper debut and got the better of a really good battle with favourite Theflyingking inside the last furlong.

Queally said: "His work had improved and I told his owner David Needham that he was a fairly good horse. He worked with Mozzies Sister last week and we said we’d go back for a bumper. He’s 17 hands and his mother won nine on the Flat. He’s a nice horse."

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