Cameletta Vega delivered an emotional victory in the final race on the penultimate day of the Galway Festival.
Trained by Willie Mullins, the five-year-old is the daughter of dual Derby winner Camelot and the legendary racemare Quevega, making her a half-sister to the late Facile Vega, who was fatally injured earlier this week.
Quevega famously won the Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival six times, while Facile Vega captured the 2022 Champion Bumper.
Guided by Patrick Mullins, Cameletta Vega was the 8-11 favourite for the Salthill Hotel Irish EBF Mares INH Flat Race, which had been won by Mullins' team five times in the past eight years.
The favourite lived up to expectations, travelling strongly from the start and effortlessly asserting control over her rivals before the home turn. Once given the signal, she surged clear, finishing with three and three-quarter lengths to spare over The Diddler, and her rider celebrated as they crossed the line.
Quevega has now produced four foals that have raced: Princess Vega, Facile Vega, Aurora Vega, and Cameletta Vega, all of whom won on debut.