By Tom Frary
1st-LEO, €17,500, Mdn, 8-17, 2yo, f, 6fT, 1:17.40, gd.
CHIARA LUNA (f, 2, War Front">War Front—Princess Highway {Hwt. 3yo Filly-Eng at 11-14f, GSW & G1SP-Ire, GSW-Eng, $252,740}, by Street Cry {Ire}), the first foal out of the stable's G2 Ribblesdale S. winner and G1 Irish Oaks third, was well supported into 4-5 favouritism and raced in third early. Gaining a narrow advantage with a furlong remaining, the homebred asserted in the final yards to score by 3/4 of a length from Modern Love (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). “It was a nice performance for her first start for a filly that's bred to go much further,” trainer Dermot Weld said. “She'll learn a lot. Hopefully next time with that benefit and over a bit further you will see a progressive filly. You could see the stamina coming through and we ran her too short to teach her. We'll see how she comes out of the race and see how she progresses, but obviously the [G1] Moyglare [Stud S. at The Curragh Sept. 10] is a very logical possible next target for her. If for any reason we thought she needed more time, we'd probably wait for the [Sept. 24 G3] CL & MF Weld Park Stakes over the stiff seven at Naas, but the Moyglare is the most likely next race for her. Princess Highway was a real mile-and-a-half mare and this filly will be best at a mile, I'd say, this year.” The dam, whose 2016 filly is by Medaglia d'Oro and who also has a foal full-sister to the winner, has been bred back to Medaglia d'Oro. She is one of three pattern-race winners for the G2 Ribblesdale S. and G3 Blandford S. winner and G1 Prix de l'Opera runner-up Irresistible Jewel (Ire) (Danehill) alongside the G1 Irish St Leger hero Royal Diamond (Ire) (King's Best) and G3 Gladness S. scorer Mad About You (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) who placed in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas, G1 Pretty Polly S., G1 Moyglare Stud S. and G1 Prix Marcel Boussac. In recent weeks, the winner's stablemates Rose de Pierre (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Making Light (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) have further enhanced this outstanding family along with the card's feature G3 Desmond S. scorer Alexios Komnenos (Ire) (Choisir {Aus}). Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $12,686. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
O/B-Moyglare Stud Farm (KY); T-Dermot Weld.[bullet ad=”us-bred-ky-bred”]
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