Pearls Galore, orange cap, outguns Pretreville© Photo Healy Racing
With the defection of Irish Lincoln winner Raadobarg due to the going, Pearls Galore went off odds-on favourite for the Listed Gradguide Heritage Stakes in Leopardstown and she delivered in good style.
Paddy Twomey 's five-year-old mare carried a mark of 109 into this race having been runner-up in a pair of Group Ones last season in addition to winning twice in Group 3 company.
She was ideally placed in second behind Pretreville and took aim over a furlong out. She soon led for Billy Lee and was ridden at the furlong pole to go and win her race. The daughter of Invincible Spirit showed her class in the closing stages as she drew two and a half lengths clear to justify 4/5 favouritism. Pretreville came home second at 9/1.
Twomey said: “I picked the race out a good while ago but I thought the ground would be softer. My owner was less keen than me to run but I liked the idea of running in a prep race like this. I had to convince my owner that it was a good idea.
“I called for her to stay in training, they wanted to retire her, and the aim is to win a Group 1.
“I have her in the Lockinge but I doubt she'll go there. She's not a Group 2 winner yet and the Ridgewood Pearl Stakes at the Curragh and the Duke Of Cambridge at Royal Ascot are likely options but she is in the Lockinge and I wouldn't rule it out.
“Then obviously we'll look at fillies races and I'd say the owner would like to go back to America with her eventually. I'd say she'd suit America.
“She was just ready to run today and it's just wherever she takes us now. She's not very big so she won't take lots of racing but she's a five-year-old so she'll take more than she has before.
“She's run on firm and heavy and it's been the same result so I'd say she's more versatile than I thought she was.
“It's be great if she could win a Group 1, the trainer would like to win one and it would be great for her if she could win one.”
The Stewards interviewed J.M. Sheridan, rider of fifth-placed Let's concerning his use of the whip in the latter stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned who accepted he used his whip with excessive frequency. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence the Stewards found the rider in breach of Reg.10.3.(g) in that he had used his whip with excessive frequency and having taken his record into account suspended him for three race days.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
