Lope De Lilas

There was a lot to like about the performance that Lope De Lilas put up in winning the 10-furlong fillies’ maiden at Leopardstown on Sunday. Taken back in the field early on by Colin Keane, she made nice progress around the outside as they rounded the home turn. Widest of all into the home straight, she made her ground easily up on the outside, joined the leader Finsceal Luas at the furlong marker, and she picked up impressively when her rider asked her to, stretching away to win by over two lengths.

This was just Lope De Lilas’ second run. Willie Mullins’ filly was well backed on her racecourse debut at Galway in August on heavy ground, when she showed signs of inexperience before keeping on up the hill to take fifth place. She was much more professional here, she did everything very easily, she came from well back on a day on which pace was holding up well – and the second, third and fourth behind her all raced handily – and she clocked the fastest time of the three 10-furlong races run on the day, over a second faster than the time that Los Angeles clocked in winning the Derby Trial. This was just her second run too, so she should progress from it. Out of a half-sister to French Guineas and Oaks winner Golden Lilac, there is no knowing how high she could go. She holds an entry in the Irish Oaks, and she will be of big interest if she takes her chance in that.

Leopardstown, 12^th May 2024