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Facile winner Sancta Simona gives Mullins three wins

Sancta Simona in a different league to her oppositionSancta Simona in a different league to her opposition
© Photo Healy Racing

Sancta Simona went into plenty of notebooks as she cruised home in the bumper at Kilbeggan.

The five-year-old mare eased past even-money-favourite Active Force over a furlong out and Patrick Mullins was motionless as she drew further and further clear to stroll home by 11 lengths.

She was easy to back from 6/4 out to 2/1 although those who did play the odds never had a moments doubt.

Active Force finished second, 17 lengths in front of Cemister (8/1 from 11s).

A morning-price gamble on Pike County (50/1 to and SP of 12/1) went awry as he came home well behind in fifth.

Patrick Mullins said: “She was very good. The better ground helped her out, she got stuck in the mud in Thurles.

“Virginia Beauscop looks after her and has done a great job with her. She has lots of gears and could win on the Flat.

“I think she's probably a black-type mare. She'd be made for that Listed mares' bumper in Gowran but that's a long way away. She'll get black-type somewhere anyway.”

Sancta Simona was 19 lengths runner-up to subsequent Grade Two-placed Rhinestone on debut at Thurles in December.

This was a third winner on the card for Willie Mullins following on from Redhotfillypeppers and Steel Wave

Additional reporting by Gary Carson

About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.