A step up in trip saw Even Song (3f Mastercraftsman – Guantanamera, by Sadler’s Wells) produce a career-best performance to win the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained bay was last seen running on late to finish third in the Listed Pretty Polly Stakes over ten furlongs at Newmarket, while the Ribblesdale was run over a mile and a half. Positioned in midfield by Ryan Moore, she made good headway over two furlongs out and led over a furlong from home, running on well to score by a length and a half.

The winning trainer later commented, “Even Song is a lovely filly. She’s a very well bred filly and a half-sister to last year’s St Leger winner. She’s a big mare as well so you’d imagine she’d improve and could be even better next year.”

The Barronstown Stud-bred Even Song is, indeed, a half-sister to the 2015 St. Leger winner Simple Verse, as well as Group 2 Superlative Stakes third Maxentius.