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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

O'Brien has an eye-catching recruit in Goldana

Sun 16th Apr 2023, 16:47

Goldana, left, comes home best in the CurraghGoldana, left, comes home best in the Curragh
© Photo Healy Racing

Joseph O'Brien appears to have a smart recruit on his hands as Goldana unleashed a finishing kick on Irish debut to win the Group 3 Lester Piggott Gladness Stakes over seven furlongs. Mea Domina a French import for Paddy Twomey who was third on Irish debut at Leopardstown, soon dictated under Billy Lee.

She was still blazing away in the final quarter of a mile, but Cosmic Vega and Goldana closed inside the final furlong.

Goldana finished off to best effect and raced past Mea Domina in the closing stages to prevail by a length and three quarters at 17/2. Runner-up, Mea Domina, was the 2/1 favourite and she was a neck in front of Cosmic Vega (12/1).

Goldana won three times in Germany including at Listed level on her last start at Hanover in October.

O’Brien said: “I’m delighted for the owners. It’s their first horse with me and she looks a smart filly going forward. She had good form on slow ground in Germany and it’s nice to start off the season with a Group win for her.

“We bought her in Arqana last year and she is a sister to Love Reigns who is a smart filly for Wesley Ward. She has a pedigree and was a Listed winner already.

“She won her Listed race over nine furlongs so she’ll probably stay a bit further. It looked as though she got a little bit outpaced when they quickened up, but she came good in the last 100 yards.

“She has loads of options and there is a lovely programme for fillies. The Athasi back here may come a bit quick for her.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee

1st
17/2
Tote €9.50 €2.00
2nd
1.75L
2/1Fav
€1.80
3rd
nk
12/1
4th
0.5L
9/2
About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.