Tropical comes from last to first under fine Hayes ride Given a fine ride by Chris Hayes, Tropical Retreat came from last to first in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap. A winner at Dundalk in February and a good second to Midnight Horizon when last seen at Fairyhouse, the Tom Mullins-trained chestnut was surprisingly easy to back this afternoon, returning at 9/1 (6s early). Edging right from the stalls and racing in rear, the Bungle Inthejungle three-year-old took closer order with over two-furlongs to go. Coming with a sweeping run between rivals from the furlong pole, she soon surged to the front and kept up the gallop all the way to the line, winning by two-and-three-quarters of a length. There was just a short head between Agouti Bear (7/1) and Aurora Nova in second and third respectively, with the latter, who won at Bellewstown on Thursday, sent off a well-backed 7/4 favourite, from early shows of 7/2. "She did what we thought she might do. She's still learning, she's a head strong filly. She likes to do it her way, rather than ours, but she's coming round to our way of thinking," said Mullins. "She knuckled down in the last furlong, climbing up the hill was a help to her and Naas might be a nice place to come with her for that reason. "I thought she had a good chance today. I'm delighted but not surprised. "James Ryan gets on very well with her but he's in Sandown today. Chris knew her so we got him and he gave her a great ride as well. "We'll look for another sprint and I like Naas for her." Additional reporting by Gary Carson
