Missybeel races to Epona Stakes victory

Missybeel has broken through at black-type level in winning the Epona Stakes at Rosehill.

Five-year-old Missybeel has landed a valuable stakes win with an upset victory in the Group Three Epona Stakes at Rosehill.

The Bjorn Baker-trained mare enjoyed a good run behind leader Greysful Glamour in Saturday’s 1900m race for fillies and mares before peeling out at the top of the straight to make her challenge.

With Tim Clark aboard, Missybeel ($21) took over at the 200m and held off Gayatri ($8.50) to score by a head with Greysful Glamour ($7) holding third, another 1-3/4-lengths away.

It was Missybeel’s sixth win from 32 starts but her first victory at stakes level.

“She had a nice run and relaxed well,” Clark said.

“That gave her a good opportunity to finish off. She followed the right horse, the grey horse took me everywhere I needed to go.

“She sprinted up well and toughed it out really strongly.

“It was a nice race for her against the mares to try and get some black-type.”