Aurora Vega takes Honeysuckle honours

Aurora Vega bounced back from Cheltenham Festival disappointment to lift the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Honeysuckle Mares Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse.

A daughter of Walk In The Park out of the six-time Cheltenham heroine Quevega, the Willie Mullins-trained seven-year-old upheld family honour by winning six of her first nine starts under rules, including a Grade Three success at Fairyhouse in late January.

She failed to fire in the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle in the Cotswolds last month, but Paul Townend kept the faith on her return to home soil and was duly rewarded with a Grade One victory.

Mullins said: “Like her mother she’s maturing with age. The family just seems to get better with age, and it looks like she’ll stay further.

“Quevega had a big heart and she’s breeding mares with a big heart as well.”

Aurora Vega disputed the lead from the flag-fall and went clear of her rivals heading out onto the second circuit.

She got close to the second-last and particularly the last hurdle, giving Fergal O’Brien’s British raider That’ll Do Moss a sniff of victory, but Aurora Vega found plenty for pressure on the run-in to emerge victorious by two and a quarter lengths.

Mullins, landing this prize for the fourth year in succession and a ninth time overall, added: “I was particularly pleased with the ride Paul gave her – he just stayed out wide and kept out of trouble.

“She had that one little mishap at the last, but other than that I think she jumped well and she looks like she’s just getting better with age.

“It’s unlikely she’ll run again this season, but we’ll see what there is in Punchestown for her. I’m not looking to run her again.”

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