19th-Jun-2020

I am backing Lemista in the Listed Victor McCalmont Stakes at Gowran Park this evening.

There is a lot to like about Ger Lyons’ filly.  She shaped encouragingly on her first two runs as a juvenile last season, then stepped forward significantly when she encountered soft ground at Gowran Park and ran out an impressive winner of her maiden.  She stayed on well to get the better of Gin Blossom, and the pair of them came clear of Bestrella, who has come out and run well already this season.  Back in fourth that day was Thundering Nights, who won the race at Galway in October in which Elfin Queen finished third.

Lemista has had a run too this season.  She won the Park Express Stakes at Naas on the first day of the turf flat season in March.  The lesser-fancied of the two Ger Lyons fillies in the race, she stayed on well to win well from the talented Hamariyna, with her stable companion Even So back in third.  She did well to win that day, she was weak in the market and she raced prominently, with the three fillies who chased her home all held up.

Elfin Queen is obviously a big danger, she cost $1.2 million as a yearling and she was impressive in winning her maiden at Naas on the day that racing resumed.  However, her price tag is factored into her odds a bit, and there is a good chance that Lemista can beat her.

It is not a two horse race, Camphor is a player as well, and Winiata is solid, but Lemista is the bet.

LEMISTA WON (ADV 3/1, SP 5/2)