Staysound Susie

Staysound Susie won’t have been missed by many, but she did remarkably well to finish third in the Birdcatcher Nursery at Naas on Saturday. She travelled really well through her race for Andy Slattery, just behind the pace, but she was short of room at the two-furlong marker when her rider wanted to go forward. She lost plenty of ground and momentum there and, switched to her left, she was again short of room as the winner Glamorously made her ground on the far side. Dropped to fifth, Staysound Susie stayed on well again up the hill to just snatch third place behind Glamorously and Back Down Under.

This was a career-best performance by Andy Slattery’s filly. She hasn’t won yet in six attempts but, on this evidence, she should be winning soon. You can easily argue that she could have won had she had a better run through the race. A 3lb hike was not harsh at all, and she will be of interest if she runs in another nursery now on this soft ground before the end of the season.

Naas, 14^th October 2023