JOHNNY Feane is working back from the Group 1 Coolmore Matron Stakes with his stable star Vera’s Secret, after the 2024 Irish Champions Festival scorer bossed the Group 3 Al Shira'aa Racing 'Mutamakina' Stakes from the front.

Given a canny ride from Seamie Heffernan, the 11/2 winner (from a morning price of 12/1) looks an improved performer as a six-year-old and continued her rise through the ranks with a four-length win over the talented Fiery Lucy.

Bella Isabella, well positioned by Chris Hayes, earned blacktype in third for Dermot Weld and Moyglare Stud, while Vespertilio wasn’t able to land a telling blow from off the pace with a wide trip as 5/4 favourite.

Feane said: “The owner [Jim Browne] was very plucky [to keep her in training]. She was good last year and hasn’t had a lot of racing. She is a big strong six-year-old now, a quality filly and proved it there today.

“With that bit of age about her, she’s more relaxed this year. She’s a bit different now. Seamie gave her a great ride. Nathan Crosse was due to ride her. He’s done a lot of work with her this year, as has David Molloy and all the lads in the yard, but Nathan had to go to Hoppegarten today to ride for Willie McCreery. This is his ride and Seamie was an able substitute today.”

On what could be next for the Epaulette mare, Feane added: “She’s entered in the Lanwades Stud Stakes at the Curragh [on Guineas weekend]. Later on in the year, we’ll probably come back here for the Matron Stakes but that is a long way off. She doesn’t take too much running.

“She’s such a big filly she’d nearly jump a fence! She won’t do that as a valuable filly. I think she’ll come on for that run today. She weighs over 600 kilos, is 17 hands and takes plenty of work at home. She’s a tough bit of stuff.”

Chicago clicks

Elsewhere on the card, it was an excellent afternoon for Johnny Murtagh and Ben Coen. The pair struck with a double, kicked off with a win from the impressive Zodiac Bear in the opening seven-furlong Fitz Agriplant Maiden, while Chicago Critic notched a big-race success in the Listed Porsche In Support Of Breast Cancer Ireland Amethyst Stakes.

The latter took full advantage of odds-on favourite Diego Velazquez being withdrawn at the start after getting upset in the stalls to beat Kortez Bay by a length and three quarters.

Chicago Critic, owned by Sam Mencoff and Tony Smurfit, showed the benefit of his recent Cork comeback run over six furlongs (seventh in the Listed Cork Stakes) to sweep around the field at 14/1.

Coen said: “He’s a talented horse. We’ve kind of been messing around a bit with trips for him from a mile to six furlongs, but I think a mile and fast ground is ideal for him. We didn’t go quick today, and I had a good turn of foot towards the end. It’s nice to get his head in front again.”