Now Or Never

Now Or Never put up a really likeable performance to win the juvenile fillies' maiden at Galway on Tuesday, and she could be a filly on the up now.

Nicely backed beforehand, the Bushranger filly was kicked into the lead from flagfall by Emmet McNamara, and she was quickly into a nice rhythm in front. She was hunted up by Pat Smullen on Simannka, who was in turn followed by Kind Of Magic. Those two fillies dominated the market, and are trained, respectively, by Dermot Weld and Aidan O'Brien, who between them were responsible for eight of the previous nine winners of this race.

Michael O'Callaghan's filly found plenty in front, however. She picked up nicely on the run around the home turn, and she stayed on strongly up the hill and all the way to the line to post an impressive victory, coming home over five lengths clear of Simannka. She recorded a good time too, slightly faster than both the three-year-olds' maiden and the 0-80 handicap that was run over the same distance later in the evening, which was impressive for a juvenile filly having just her second run.

This race is often a good pointer to the future. Legatissimo won it last year, and Tarfasha and Magical Dream won the previous two renewals. Now Or Never obviously has a long way to go if she is to emulate those fillies, but this performance proved that she has talent, and she is a lovely filly for Michael O'Callaghan now. Out of a half-sister to top sprinter Dream Ahead, there is stamina in her pedigree too. She holds some lofty entries, which is an indication of the regard in which she is held by connections, and she will be of interest wherever she goes next.

28^th July 2015

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