The Model Kingdom heads for home© Photo Healy Racing
The Model Kingdom opened up a route to the major festivals with victory in the Listed mares' bumper at Navan.
She raced powerfully into the lead with over a quarter of a mile to travel and had all her rivals scrubbed along as she began to crank up the pressure.
The 2/1 favourite was ridden clear in the final furlong and had enough in the tank to fend off newcomer Harmonya Maker (4/1) by a length and a half. The runner-up is certainly one for the notebook having been pitched into Listed company on her first start. Battling Bessie completed the placings in third at 14/1.
"I got heart failure because he (Pat Taaffe) went so soon on her!” said trainer Noel Meade.
“The last thing I said as he was going out was 'the last fence Pat don't be in front before then'. I thought she was going to get caught and I did sweat a bit in the last furlong.
“I would have been disappointed if she was beaten today but having said that I've been disappointed so often coming racing.
“I suppose we'll look at the Dublin racing festival with her. If she gets through that she'll probably have another run somewhere.
“There is the mares race in Liverpool and if she won at Leopardstown you could think about Cheltenham.
“She is a bit buzzy but she has quietened down well. She's from a very good family.”
Meade is Chairman of Navan racecourse who celebrated their 100th year of racing today and he added: “She was the one we fancied and we thought if we had a winner she'd be it. It's great that she won for the day that is in it.
“It's great to see a crowd like that back here again. I remember when I was a kid it was like that every time I came here and you'd been beating your way down through the bookies ring.
“It was lovely to see the people here. It's been a great day.”
The Model Kingdom is now two for two having got off the mark in a fillies' bumper at Galway in October.
The Stewards interviewed Mr Pat Taaffe, rider of The Model Kingdom, concerning his use of the whip in the closing stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned, who accepted that he had used his whip with excessive frequency. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards were satisfied that Mr Pat Taaffe was in breach of Regulation 10.3 (g) (frequency), and having considered his record in this regard suspended him for three racedays.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
