Off the scene for nearly a year this lightly raced well bred four year-old Fastnet Rock mare made a winning return at Kilmore on Friday as a short priced favourite in the C+M Build Group Maiden over 1104m. Trained by Lee and Shannon Hope, Inez ran second at her first three starts last summer before taking on stakes company in the Group III VRC The Vanity when unplaced behind Grinzinger Belle.
Sidelined since that run in February last year, Inez looked good in a recent barrier trial and was heavily supported by punters for her return in the 1104m maiden. Slow out for Cory Parish, Inez settled at the back of the field but produced a long sustained run to surge home and win by a length and a half.
“She did a good job and while they might not have been top horses, she hadn’t had a race for a good while and I’m not sure what happened at the start, but she lengthened quite nice and won well,” said Co Trainer – Lee Hope.
“Now she’s cracked the maiden win we can look for higher and I think she will improve.”
Cory Parish had to go to Plan B after finding himself at the rear of the field, but was happy with the result.
“She jumped average and then got squeezed up by both the inside and outside horses and I had wanted to be up close and just behind the leaders, so when that happened I thought let’s go to Plan B and not panic, just let her relax and once I got her to the outside after we turned for home she let down really well,” he said.
A $700,000 Inglis Easter purchase for Colm Santry Bloodstock from Coolmore on behalf of clients Greg and Jenny White , Inez races for their Alpara Lodge and is the first foal and first winner for Group II winning high Chaparral (IRE) mare Bring Me Roses, a half-sister to Group III winner Face Value and to the dam of stakes-winner Diamond Earth.
Inez and her dam Bring Me Roses were both bred by Dr Denis O’Brien and his wife Claire and were foaled and raised at Coolmore.
Breednet – Tara Madgwick
Images Pat Scala / Racing Photos
Hope Racing – Carol