Joailliere

Joailliere put up a really nice performance on her racecourse debut at Gowran Park on Saturday to win a seven-furlong maiden. She was a 2/5 shot, she is a highly-regarded filly, she is a half-sister to the prolific Carla Bianca, who won her last four races last season, including the Group 3 Dance Design Stakes, but the manner in which she won this was impressive.

Fast away from her inside stall, the Moyglare Stud filly was second around the opening bend at a decent pace as the field stretched out behind her. Moving up on the outside of the leader Gladly on the run around the home turn, she eased to the front two and a half furlongs out, and cruised clear under a motionless Pat Smullen. Her rider didn't even crouch lower and ride her out, he didn't need to. He just changed his hands and gave her a slight squeeze, and she came readily clear, putting seven lengths between herself and her closest pursuers, Alertness and Love Rosie, by the time they reached the winning line.

It is often difficult to judge the strength of these early-season three-year-old maidens, but the fourth filly home, Creggs Pipes, had finished three and a half lengths third behind The Warrior on the opening day of the season at The Curragh. More than that, however, the winning time was really impressive for a debutante who barely broke sweat. It was by far the fastest comparative time of the day, it was just 0.16secs/furlong slower than Racing Post par. Also, there were three races run over seven furlongs on the day, and Joailliere's time was over a second and a half faster than the fastest of the other two. And it is probable that she could have gone significantly faster if one of her rivals had pushed her even a little harder.

Trainer Dermot Weld said afterwards that they were not getting carried away, but that she had been working nicely in the lead up to the race. He also mentioned that the Irish Guineas was a possible target now, and that is not surprising. She could be that good. It may be that she will be at her best on this easy ground, but she is an exciting filly who should get a mile at least.

11th April 2015

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