Sunday 21 May 2017 18:19, UK
Listen Dear continued her rags to riches story when the 1,000 euro purchase broke through the 100,000 euro barrier with an eighth career victory in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Chase at Limerick.
The seven-year-old, trained by Willie Mullins, had been beaten in her last two starts but returned to winning ways as the even-money favourite when making all under Paul Townend to score by 10 lengths from Annamatopoeia.
The trainer's son, Patrick Mullins, said: "She is so slick over her fences - she isn't big but has so much scope and Paul had a big grin on his face there and wanted to go around again.
"We'll look for something similar if we can find a similar race but on that good ground over the summer tracks, she'll be very hard to catch. There is no long-term plan but the Galway Plate is an option - she'll probably get an entry but could also go back over hurdles."
Adrian Maguire had a welcome winner as Gagas Horse (6-1) denied favourite Minella Beau in the bumper, under his son, Finny.
Maguire said: "I fancied him - coming back to two miles and getting 7lb from Minella Beau, and I also stuck a hood on him because in Mallow he just did too much.
"It was a good performance and if he's not sold, he'll go hurdling."
Regarding his possible intention to retire from training, he added "I'm trying my best - when I said it (possible retirement), I had four paying horses and I have two paying horses now.
"I said I'd say it when I had four as there's no point in saying it when I had two ao I'm trying my best to survive like everyone else. If you don't open your mouth you're forgotten about but you're always trying."
