George Boughey enjoyed his first success in Ireland in the best possible way when his mare Via Sistina came home best to take the Group 1 Pretty Polly at the Curragh.
The daughter of Fastnet Rock started out life with Joseph Tuite and it seems only fitting that his last-ever runner, Via Sistina, would graduate to Group 1 glory at the Curragh this afternoon.
Via Sistina has gone from strength-to-strength since joining the Newmarket-based handler and made a pleasing stable debut when runner-up in the Group 3 Pride Stakes on the Rowley Mile last season. She was cleverly placed to land Group 3 honours at Toulouse on her second start for the stable before being given a lengthy winter break.
The five-year-old returned to action with something of a six-length demolition in the Group 2 Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket's Guineas meeting and Group 1 competition was destined to be on the cards next-time-out.
As expected, Via Sistina was given plenty of time to find her stride after something of an awkward beginning and Jamie Spencer anchored his mount towards the rear of the field alongside fellow English raider Stay Alert. The field of nine was taken along by Trevaunance for much of the contest with Ryan Moore sitting in the box position onboard main market rival Above The Curve.
The pace began to lift and Above The Curve struck the front approaching the two-furlong marker but as soon as Ryan Moore asked his mount to quicken, Via Sistina commenced her sweeping run towards the centre of the track having been ridden chilly by an unhurried Spencer for much of the contest. She quickened up smartly to join the issue with her main market rival at the furlong pole despite not looking 100% at ease on the ground. The Fastnet Rock mare hung right-handed causing considerable interference to her rivals inside the final furlong but was always coming home much the best and eventually finished a ready two lengths clear at the line.
The Hughie Morrison-trained Stay Alert was something of the 'meat in the sandwich' during the interference and she displayed a good attitude to grab the second spot to make sure it would be a one-two for English raiders at the Curragh.
Above The Curve stuck to her task well enough back in third but was ultimately beaten three-and-a-quarter lengths by the winner while Rosscarbery, who looked to come off worse of all in the scrimmaging up the home straight was unable to recover and finished fourth.
It was no surprise to hear the klaxon sound shortly after the runners crossed the line and a stewards' inquiry was called due to the interference in the aftermath. However, with the winning margin being two lengths and Via Sistina clearly much the best on the day, the result never really looked in doubt and the placings remained unaltered.
The success ensured that it was back-to-back Group 1 Saturdays for jockey Jamie Spencer, who steered Khaadem to a shock 80/1 success in last weekend's Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.
He said: "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.
"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."
It was a first victory at the highest level for Via Sistina and George Boughey's mare looks to have plenty of options going forwards. Paddy Power were quick to cut her to 7/2 from 7/1 for the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood in August while shortly after she was shortened to 5/2 from 4/1 for the Falmouth Stakes back on the Rowley Mile.
Jubilant owner Stephen Hillen said: "It doesn't happen like that very often.
"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."
When asked about future plans, he said: "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.
"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."
