Mutasarref Game Winner Of Group 3 Ballycorus Stakes
The Ger Lyons trained 7f specialist Mutasarref ran out a game winner of the Group 3 Ballycorus Stakes at Leopardstown yesterday under Colin Keane. Sent off the 5/4 favourite in a seven-strong field, the six-year-old son of Dark Angel was ridden prominently just behind the leaders and was going best of all as they turned into the straight. The gelding ran on strongly in the closing stages and hit the front passing the furlong pole before showing a good attitude to see off the strong challenge of Special Wan to win by a head. The front pair stretched four lengths clear of Bright Stripes in third. Having finished last year with a win in the Listed Knockaire Stakes over the same course and distance, Mutasarref made a pleasing return to action in the Listed Gladness Stakes in April before winning his third Listed race in the Owenstown Stud Stakes at Naas last month. This was his third appearance in Group 3company and a career-best performance. Owned by Eleanora Kennedy who was enjoying her first Group winner and bred by Shadwell Estate Company Limited, he is one of three winners from as many runners out of the winning Mawatheeq mare Mulkeyya, a half-sister to the Group 2 Greenlands Stakes winner and Group 1 Irish 2,000 Guineas-placed sire Mustajeeb.
