Horses To Follow » Rose De Pierre

Rose De Pierre

Rose De Pierre was impressive in landing the one-mile fillies’ handicap at The Curragh on Sunday.

Settled just behind the leaders through the early stages of the race by Pay Smullen, the Moyglare Stud’s filly moved easily to the three-furlong pole. She picked up nicely when Smullen gave her a squeeze at the two-furlong pole, moved into the lead by the time they reached the furlong pole under no more than hands-and-heels, and she cleared away impressively through the final 150 yards to win by two lengths from Diamond Rio. Back in third was Siamsaiocht, who won over 10 furlongs at Leopardstown four days later.

This was a really nice performance from Rose De Pierre. A narrow winner of her maiden on her racecourse debut at The Curragh in early May, this was her first run since. A mark of 91 was obviously more than fair for her handicap debut, but such was the authoritativeness with which she won, a 12lb hike was not overly harsh.

Handicaps may be out for the Dermot Weld-trained filly now anyway, she deserves her chance at black type now. Just a three-year-old who had won her only two races, she obviously has bags of scope for progression. She has the pace for a mile, but her dam is Profound Beauty, who finished fifth in a Melbourne Cup and who who the Group 3 Curragh Cup over a mile and six furlongs, so she could improve for stepping up in trip. She handles easy ground well, so she could be a filly for the autumn, and it is interesting that her trainer thinks enough of her to have given her an entry in the Group 1 Matron Stakes.

17th July 2016