Kitty Rose

Kitty Rose did well to keep on as well as she did to take second place in Leopardstown’s 1000 Guineas Trial over seven furlongs last Saturday, having raced prominently up with a fast pace from early. She got away well and Seamie Hefffernan had her across early from her stall 11 draw. She settled nicely in front and she travelled well into the home straight. Challenged by A Lilac Rose two furlongs out, she was headed by that rival at the furlong marker, but she battled back gallantly on the far side, going down by just a head in the end, the front two finishing almost three lengths clear of Buttons in third.

It was a fine performance by Natalia Lupini’s filly on her seasonal debut. She sprang a big surprise on her racecourse debut last season, when she won her maiden at Naas at the end of August, but she proved that there was no fluke in that when she won the listed Ingabelle Stakes at Leopardstown on Irish Champions’ Weekend. This was just her fourth run and it was her first run since October, so she should progress from it, and she could improve again for a step back up in trip.

Leopardstown, 7^th April 2024