Amy Murphy's well-bred mare clinches a valuable black-type victory at Exeter.
Carole's Pass, expertly trained by Amy Murphy, gracefully asserted the family's prestige in the Trustatrader You Can Trust Our Traders Mares' Chase, the highlight event of the day at Exeter.
Despite a seemingly challenging task based on the ratings, the six-year-old mare's astute placement paid off handsomely. Demonstrating her mettle, she skillfully manoeuvred herself into contention at the third last fence before being expertly guided to a stylish triumph.
Carole's Pass's lineage traces back to her dam, Carole's Spirit, which achieved the distinction of being a dual-listed winner over hurdles. This remarkable mare was owned and bred by Paul Murphy, the esteemed father of trainer Amy Murphy. Furthermore, Carole's Spirit shares a bloodline connection with Carole's Legacy, a notable Grade One runner-up under the guidance of the esteemed Nicky Henderson, and Mad Max, a triumphant Grade Two fences victor trained by the acclaimed Seven Barrows maestro.
While Murphy's focus has predominantly shifted towards flat racing, her early career exploits with Kalashnikov securing victories in the Betfair Hurdle and the Manifesto Novices' Chase showcased her prowess over jumps.
Galia Des Liteaux valiantly attempted to set the pace but succumbed early in the straight. Despite the strong presence of contenders such as Malina Girl and Kestrel Valley, Carole's Pass effortlessly surged ahead when prompted by jockey Jack Quinlan, leaving her rivals trailing by an impressive margin of seven and a half lengths.
Quinlan, in an interview with Racing TV, commended Amy and Paul Murphy's decision to participate in the race despite the challenging ground conditions. He credited their judgement as Carole's Pass proved her competence on the demanding terrain, highlighting her nimble and agile jumping technique that made the race an enjoyable experience.
The acquisition of a Listed victory adds an illustrious achievement to Carole's Pass's repertoire. Despite her longing for a step up to three miles, Paul, keeping breeding prospects in mind, underlined the importance of garnering black type, which led to her participation in races spanning two and a half miles, the distance typically set for mares' Listed races.
Towards the end of the race, Carole's Pass exhibited signs of fatigue, but her resolute spirit allowed her to secure a commendable third-place finish in two previous Listed chases. Quinlan expressed his elation at witnessing her claim this well-deserved triumph.