A'YUN LAPS UP THE 2450M TO CLAIM HER THIRD WIN

By Graham Potter | Tuesday, August 17, 2021

There are not many 2450m races around so when you have stayer in the camp it is best to make the most of these opportunities when they arise … and that is exactly what the Michael Nolan stable did with A’yun who lined up for a Class 2 Handicap over the distance at Beaudesert on August 17.

The four-year-old grey mare came into the race with a consistent form-line having claimed two wins, two runner-up finishes and one third place in her pervious six starts. She already had a win over 1875m to her credit, but it was her two runner-up finishes that boosted confidence for this assignment as they had come over 2170m and 2210m with A’yun finishing less than a length behind the winner on both of those occasions.

A’yun landed in the leading line and, although she was happy to go back into a comfortable fourth spot early, she did hold the rail position meaning she was being given the run of the race by jockey Michael Hellyer.

That fourth placing took A’yun further and further from the lead during the first lap though as the $61 chance Tycoon Player tore right away in front, opening up a gap of some twenty lengths over the pack when taking the field down the back straight for the second time.

Tycoon Player’s effort was brave but when he did eventually start coming back to his field as expected inside the final 400m, Hellyer, who hadn’t blinked once at the deficit he faced early on, had A’yun right in the mix and ready to launch her challenge.

That came from a position four wide on the turn and was backed by a determined, strong run all of the way to the line which saw A’yun sweep past her rivals with some authority, getting home with 0.50 lengths to spare.

In spite of her consistent record and more than a hint of good form over ground, A’Yun was unwanted in the betting and came home at a starting price of $17.

This was A’yun’s third win, with six minor placings, from fourteen starts.
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The Nolan stable also had a second place result at Beaudesert on the day with Hail To The Chief ($3.80) finding one too good for him in the form of Sienna’s Award ($2.80)

The very lightly raced five-year-old has only raced three times and has now finished third and second in his last two starts, improving his results with each step up in distance which has gone from 860m to 1300m to 1400m.

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