McDonogh swoops from off the pace on Victoria There was a contested pace in the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden (Smullen Series) which was the opener on day two of the Listowel festival, and Joseph O’Brien’s newcomer Magna Victoria came from seventh on the home turn to lead inside the final 100 yards. The Victor Ludorum filly, owned by Polish-based Millennium Stud SP ZO O and trained by Joseph O’Brien, scored by a length and a quarter from fellow closer King Christoph, with market leader Dawnmore fading to third having had to work hard to get to the front before halfway in the one-mile contest. "The pace was really, really strong and being green in the first few furlongs, she got outpaced but she came home great,” said rider Declan McDonogh. “She overcame a few obstacles, but the pace collapsed up the straight and to win like this, it shows she has a lot of class. "It was a typical beginning to a race around here as everyone wants to get on the front end, as people feel they can't make up ground from the back. Sometimes it can play that way, but you need luck in the straight. "I had ridden her previously in a barrier trial (at Leopardstown last month) and really liked her, so I knew the filly. Joseph said if she could overcome the track, that she might win. "The ground is quite gluey for us on the Flat." Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
