Pearls Galore

Champers Elysees continued her march forward when she won the Group 3 Coolmore Stud Fairy Bridge Stakes at Gowran Park on Wednesday, but Pearls Galore put up big effort in chasing her home.

Paddy Twomey’s filly was a little keen very early on, up on the outside of early leader Auxilia, but she settled nicely in third place as they raced out of the back straight. Moved towards the near side by Billy Lee early in the home straight, she picked up well at the two-furlong marker and, even after Champers Elysees passed her, she kept on all the way to the line, going down by just a half a length to the winner and pulling five lengths clear of Parent’s Prayer in third.

It was a big run by the Invincible Spirit filly, to get as close as she did to Champers Elysees, who may now be allowed take her chance in the Group 1 Matron Stakes at Leopardstown on Irish Champions’ Weekend. Winner of a Limerick maiden in July on her first run for Paddy Twomey since her arrival from France, she was impressive in winning a fillies’ handicap at Cork on her next run, and she proved here that she is well worth her place in Pattern company.

This seven-furlong trip is a good trip for her, and she goes well on good ground as well as on this soft ground. She holds entries in the Group 3 Sceptre Stakes at Doncaster and in the Listed Tetrarch Stakes at Cork on Wednesday, and she will be of interest if she takes her chance in either. If she skips both, if she is given more time by her trainer, she will be of interest wherever she goes next. She is a lightly-raced filly who has the scope to continue to progress.

Gowran Park, 2nd September 2020

© Sportinglife.com, 7th September 2020