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Legendary trainer Willie Mullins insists he'll be 'disappointed' if exciting mare Sapphire Lady fails to win the closing race at Killarney this evening.
A half-sister to lively stable star Westerner Lady, she looked a great horse in the making when winning her debut in both encouraging fashion.
She's a short price favourite for only her second start, but should be too good in the Killarney Racegoers Club Mares Flat Race (9:00).
The five-year-old justified odds-on favoritism on debut, when clearing the field in impressive style to record a five and a half length victory.
Patrick Mullins didn't have to press too hard on the debutant, as she beat The Princetonian in second. Jessica Harrington's four-year-old is a good measure of form, having finished second in a similar event only a fortnight before.
She is from a good family, and Mullins is expecting another good performance from this exciting mare.
"Sapphire Lady goes for the mares' bumper over 2m1f," Mullins told his website.
"She won easily on debut at Ballinrobe, and it will be disappointing if she fails to follow up here."
Sapphire Lady may be aimed to the 2018 Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival, her trainer Willie Mullins has won the race eight times.
With her exciting record on the flat, the Champion Bumper may be a principal long term target for Sapphire Lady.
Yet if her County Carlow handler wants to attempt her over hurdles, the Mares' Novice Hurdle may be an option, where Mullins already has a live early chance with Ainsi Va La Vie.
The 2m1f race was introduced in 2015, and Mullins has won both runnings of the race with Limini and Let's Dance.
Anthony Butler owned and bred the promising prospect, just as he does with Westerner Lady, a half-sister to today's hot favourite.
Westerner Lady has a prolific record winning ten times from just seventeen starts, picking up a Grade Two Mares Novice Chase at Thurles.
She hasn't yet raced outside of Ireland, but could be a contender in big chase prizes next March.
Sapphire Lady is priced at 11/10 to win the closing mares bumper at Killarney tonight.
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