PATRICK MULLINS punched the air as he sauntered to victory on the latest star off the Closutton conveyor belt.
Cameletta Vega is out of Mullins Snr’s beloved six-time Mares’ Hurdle winner Quevega – and she cruised to a debut win in the hands of the master trainer’s son.
It was a poignant victory at Galway Festival, coming just days after the death of her half-brother Facile Vega.
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The four-time Grade 1 winner suffered a ‘freak accident’ in his stable and passed aged seven.
Wearing the same blue and red silks of owners Hammer & Trowel Syndicate, Cameletta Vega, who is by dual Derby winner Camelot, did connections proud in a difficult week.
The five-year-old mare was sent off 8-11 fav, made all and never once looked troubled in the 2m Flat race.
Quevega’s other three progeny – Facile Vega, Aurora Vega and Princess Vega – all won on debut too.
And it was clear to see what this meant to decorated amateur Patrick, as he clenched his fist and saluted the crowd passing the winning post.
Punters agreed it was an impressive performance, with one saying: “That’s going to be something else.”
Speaking after, Patrick opened up on a difficult week.
He said: “Cameletta Vega was a little bit worked up, but very professional once the race started.
“The plan wasn’t particularly to make the running, but nobody wanted to make it and I said we’d bowl along.
“We got to set our own fractions and kick off the bend. With her pedigree she was entitled to win.
“It’s a bright start and particularly with Facile Vega passing away. Facile gave us some wonderful days, for me personally we had wins in Leopardstown at Christmas, at the Dublin Racing Festival, in Cheltenham and in Punchestown.
“The day in Cheltenham will live long in the memory for me. It was the wettest day I’ve ever seen in Cheltenham, he was Quevega’s son and probably one of the bankers of the meeting.
“We got the head-to-head with Jamie (Codd) and American Mike and we won and a few of my friends snuck into the winner’s enclosure – it was a very enjoyable day.
“It’s frustrating and sad to lose a horse like him, but the owners have this mare coming through and Aurora Vega and there’s a four-year-old by Australia in the yard who is not named yet, but she’s nice as well.
“I didn’t get to ride Quevega, it was a bit before I was at that level, but it’s great to have that connection with them and it just shows those good racemares can be good broodmares. It’s very special.”
While Willie set out the next target.
He said: “It was nice to see her do that and it was the best bit of work she has ever done.
“She was backward last year but has come forward nicely and Quevega’s progeny seem to take time.
“She is very strong but wouldn’t be anything like the size of Facile Vega and to me she is maturing all the time.
“She quickened nicely and is obviously better than she is showing me at home.
“We’ll aim for the Listed bumper in Gowran in October.”
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