TV TROPHY BID RULED OUT AS DANA COMES IN SEASON

Ian Fortune

For the second year running, Dana Point will miss out on a potential crack at the TV Trophy across the water after coming in season.

Sean Mullins confirmed his brilliant ultra-marathon performer was going to be aimed at the Towcester Marathon in March before targeting the TV Trophy at Hove in early April. Sadly, it wasn’t meant to be. Sean also confirmed they plan to race her again saying, “She will be four in October but isn’t showing her age so our plan is to try and get her back to racing fitness by mid-summer. She will then tell us if she is able to compete at her best or not. We considered covering her but then decided that we couldn’t deny her a chance of three in a row.”

The three in a row that Sean is speaking of is the Shelbourne Marathon over the 1025 yd trip. The daughter of Sparta Maestro won the competition in 2020 and 2021, going unbeaten through the stake in both years. But, of course, she could also go for three in a row at the Night of Stars/ RCÉ Winter Racing Festival.

She won the final Night of Stars 850 in 2020 before going on to win over the 1025yd trip at last year’s Winter Racing Festival. We sincerely hope Dana Point does return to her best form and will be ready and raring to go when the marathon season kicks into gear at the end of the year.