BANADURA has established herself as the leading native-bred three-year-old filly entering the Classic series of races with her victory in the $1.75-million Thornbird Stakes, the main attraction on Saturday’s nine-race card.

Banadura, who won the Hotline Stakes at six furlongs (1,200m) on March 23, has now won two of the three important preparatory races for fillies on the “Road to the Triple Crown”.

The Graded Stakes contest for native-bred three-year-old fillies was run over seven furlongs (1,400m), with Banadura winning the race by a length and a half ahead of stablemate
Comehometome and favourite Run Julie Run. The race ended in 1:29.1 (24.0 x 48.0 x 1:14.1).

Banadura, who was ridden by Robert Halledeen for owner Milard Azan and trainer Jason DaCosta, stormed to the top of the pack from the start but allowed Midnight Flight (Matthew Bennett) to pass down the backstretch as she settled in second position.

Halledeen then urged Banadura into the lead at the half-mile (800m) turn and the bay filly began to pull away from opponents as they ran the bend. Despite being pressured by stablemate Comehometome (Jerome Innis) as she entered the drive, Banadura was too strong in the end and won her second-consecutive race of the season.

It was the second winner on the day for both DaCosta and Halledeen. DaCosta had earlier saddled She’s A Mirage (Josue Osorio) in the fourth race while Halledeen won aboard
Bad Investment for trainer Oral Hayden in the day’s sixth event

Racing continues today with the running of the $1.75-million Prince Consort Stakes featuring last year’s champion two-year-old Intrestntimesahead. First post is a noon.