Rose Of Kildare battles to Musidora success

Johnston filly grinds out victory.

Rose Of Kildare rallied in admirable fashion to take the Tattersalls Musidora Stakes at York.

Making a quick return on the back of finishing third at Epsom on Saturday, the Mark Johnston-trained filly defeated some unexposed types to land the Group Three honours.

Franny Norton had Rose Of Kildare out in front from the start and set a steady pace before the tempo increased in the straight.

She was soon headed by Dubai Love and Ricetta, but Rose Of Kildare (7-1) found more in the final furlong to go on again and win by two and a half lengths.

Albaflora (8-1) stuck on well to grab second, with the 13-8 favourite Ricetta third.

Norton said: “It was a good performance, because it was a quick turnaround from Epsom, where she ran very well.

“She hit a bit of a flat spot, but she picked up again and ran right to the line.”

The filly was bought for 3,000 euros by Johnston’s son and assistant, Charlie.

He said: “She’s taken us on an incredible journey and one we’re so proud of, really.

“We’re very fortunate to train for some of the most influential and powerful owners in racing – but at the same time, to have a syndicate of 20 owners with a filly like this is fantastic.

“We left Germany very frustrated – she should have won the German Guineas. When the Epsom race cut up we felt we had to run, because it was another good opportunity for black type.

“We left Epsom kicking ourselves a bit, thinking we shouldn’t have run, because we knew she’d improve for a mile and a quarter- and this was a good race for her. But as we always say, they are racehorses and they’re there for racing.

“She pulled it out of the fire today. There’s not a lot of her, and when we weighed her on Sunday morning we were hesitant to bring her here – but she’s very, very tough.

Mark Johnston was on target with Rose Of Kildare in the Musidora Stakes
Mark Johnston was on target with Rose Of Kildare in the Musidora Stakes (PA)

“I’m not sure where we’ll go. She’s won three Group Threes now, so we have to go up in class – I’m trying to rack my brains for a Group Two at this kind of trip against her own sex.

“Do we look at the Nassau (at Goodwood)? I don’t know. She owes us nothing, and we’ll get home and enjoy today.”

Johnston senior was at Newmarket, where he told ITV Racing: “(That’s) absolutely fantastic. We ran her at Epsom last Saturday and then regretted it, because it looked like she clearly wanted further.

“We said we should have saved her for the Musidora – and we thought, why not, let’s run her in the Musidora.

“We ran her in the Guineas and we took her for the German Guineas – which had been her target all along – and she was very unlucky there.

“One of the owners in the partnership said he wished we had her in the German Oaks. We looked at that. It’s a 50,000 euro supplement, but we won’t rule it out. It’s the sort of thing she could win, and to get a Group One would be fantastic.”

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Mark Johnston Charlie Johnston Musidora Stakes Franny Norton

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