Vespertilio
Vespertilio did well to come from back in the field to win the Listed Dash at The Curragh on Sunday, a race that was not run at a strong pace. Settled back in the field early on by Dylan Browne McMonagle, she settled well and she travelled nicely, but she was still only eighth of the 11 runners with two furlongs to run. She charted her way through from there though and, moved towards the far side by her rider, she picked up impressively through the final furlong, just getting up to win by a short head from My Mate Alfie.
Willie McCreery's filly is a high-class filly. Winner of the Group 2 Debutante Stakes as a juvenile, and second in the Group 1 Moyglare, she did well to finish a close-up third in the French 1000 Guineas on her first run as a three-year-old, and she wasn't beaten far in the Matron Stakes on her final run at three. Those two races are obviously run over a mile, but it appears as though she has found her metier now this season, dropped down to six furlongs. Fourth in the Group 2 Greenland Stakes at The Curragh on Irish Guineas weekend, when she travelled like the most likely winner at the two-furlong marker, she was ridden with more patience on Sunday, and it appears as if she thrived for those tactics. The pace wasn't strong either, her finishing speed was over 110% of her overall speed, but she was fastest of all through each of the final two furlongs, and that was obviously the winning of the race. It will be interesting to see where she goes next. Her trainer did mention the Prix Maurice de Gheest now at Deauville as an option, over six and a half furlongs. Looking further ahead, a race that could really suit her is the British Champions' Sprint Stakes at Ascot in mid-October, given how well-suited her style of racing should be to Ascot.
The Curragh, 29th June 2025
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