Racing: Red Evie sneaks to summit with perfect seven

Such was the embarrassment of equine riches on display at the weekend, and the commensurate interest it provoked ahead of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, that one top-notch performance slipped under the radar. Just over an hour before Sixties Icon, Dylan Thomas and Ouija Board bagged the Saturday spotlight, the remarkable Red Evie announced her place among the élite with victory in the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown.

The three-year-old filly, trained in Newmarket by Michael Bell, started her season by winning a Yarmouth maiden in March. Her latest success, her first try in Group One company, was her seventh in a row, an extremely rare feat at any level. As she held on tenaciously in a bobbing, battling finish she had one previous top-level winner, Peeress, a short-head behind her and another, Nannina, close up in fourth, the pair split by talented Flashy Wings.

"She has the most amazing racing temperament and will to win," said Bell yesterday. "And, unusually, because things generally go wrong rather than right, a copybook season. Her health, preparation, race plans and riding have all gone smoothly. And added to that she's a very determined young lady."

Red Evie, who carries the colours of Terry Neill, learned to stand on her own four feet right from the start. Her dam, Malafemmena, died producing her and the orphaned baby was brought up by a portly, shaggy-legged, piebald foster-mother. "She was a lovely foal," recalled her breeder, Co Kildare-based Dermot Cantillon, "but independent. Impossible to catch in the field."

The bay's looks were such that she made 58,000 guineas as a yearling, not a fortune in bloodstock terms but one of the highest prices for a daughter of Intikhab, a young stallion at the start of his career. She is the best to date by the former high-class miler, who is also responsible this season for Ebor hero Mudawin, smart sprinter Moon Unit and speedy juvenile Hoh Mike.

Red Evie made her inconspicuous racecourse debut at her local track a year ago next Wednesday. "She had showed us enough to warrant retaining her," said Bell. "She was a big, scopey sort and we turned her out for three months to let her grow a bit. When she came back and we started getting a bit serious with her she worked quite well with Nantyglo [a winner and Group Two-placed last year] and we knew we had something to go to war with.

"The Sandringham [a Listed handicap] at Royal Ascot became the goal and it has been the only time she's given herself anything like a hard race. She got into trouble and had to make up 10 lengths in the last furlong and a half, no exaggeration." Ridden by her most regular pilot Jamie Spencer, Red Evie, displaying all the generosity traditionally associated with the lop ears she owns, caught La Mottie and Makderah in the last stride.

"Some horses really do try for their jockeys, others aren't so bothered," said Bell. "This one really wants to be in front and has bags of courage. I'd back her in a dogfight."

Bell and his wife, Georgina, still own half of Red Evie, who followed her Ascot win by taking a Goodwood Group Three under Frankie Dettori. "We usually get left with the duffers, but not this time," said the trainer. "We went to Ireland with more than hope, because she was still progressing and both Jamie and Frankie said she was a Group One filly, and Jamie wanted [to ride] her ahead of both Flashy Wings and Soviet Song, if she'd run."

Red Evie's next target is another tilt at the top level, in the Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday fortnight, and there is a distinct possibility that she may be allowed to continue her progress.

"She'll make a lovely broodmare," said Bell, "but she may well be the best miling filly around and the miling crown may look open next year. We'll see."

With the prestige sales imminent, a Group One success can represent another nought on the price of a young half-sibling at auction. But there will be no such knock-on from Red Evie for Cantillon. "I haven't any others from the family," said the Irishman, also breeder of another top distaffer, Alexander Goldrun. "This time, there's no monetary gain. Just the glory."

Chris McGrath

Nap: Katiypour (Lingfield 5.15)

NB: Scrummage (Sandown 4.25)