Micheline back with a win in G2 Hillsborough Stakes

G1-placed filly Micheline made an impressive return to action with a clear-cut victory in the G2 Hillsborough Stakes over nine furlongs on turf at Tampa Bay Downs, USA, on Saturday, 6 March.

The four-year-daughter of Bernardini, runner-up in Keeneland’s G1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup on her previous start in October, soon settled in fourth of the 10 runners for Luis Saez.

She took closer order turning for home and produced a storming run in the straight, hitting the front entering the final half-furlong before galloping out strongly for a three-quarter length success.

Her trainer Michael Stidham said: “It was a huge effort from Micheline and she won very nicely. She wasn’t fully cranked up for this, coming back from a lay-off, and she won on guts and heart. She was a work or two away from being fully ready but we felt it was better to get her started for the year.

“We have so many good races coming up and we will focus on anything that is a mile and an eighth or further. I definitely feel that she has a G1 in her plans as she is certainly good enough.”