By Sean Cronin
Ballet Shoes improved off a June 28 debut fifth going six panels at Naas to claim a one-mile maiden win at The Curragh last time July 29, and stepped forward once again to register a career high in this black-type bow. Stalking the pace in second after leading through part of the early exchanges, she was sent wide to race on the stands' side off the home turn and easily asserted under mild coaxing inside the final quarter mile to win with plenty in hand. “I liked her the first day I rode her and she stepped up to win her maiden the last day,” said rider Donnacha O'Brien, who carried two pounds overweight aboard the winner. “Today was a stepping stone for her and it wasn't a case of just getting black-type as I think she's a very smart filly. She'll get further than that and will stay ten furlongs at least, but she has shown enough pace today to be effective over a mile.”
Ballet Shoes is the leading performer, and one of two winners from as many foals to race, produced by G3 Naas Fillies' Sprint S. runner-up Emerald Ring (Ire) (Johannesburg), herself out of a winning half to G1 Grand Criterium-winning sire Jade Robbery (Mr. Prospector) and GSW sires Numerous (Mr. Prospector) and Chequer (Mr. Prospector). She shares her MGSW third dam Number (Nijinsky II) with GI Metropolitan H. hero Corinthian (Pulpit) and GSW GI Santa Anita Derby placegetter Desert Hero (Sea Hero) and is from a family which also features Nureyev (Northern Dancer), Sadler's Wells (Northern Dancer), Tate Gallery (Northern Dancer), et al.
COOLMORE IVAWOOD S.-Listed, €55,000, TIP, 8-11, 2yo, 7f 100yT, 1:37.40, yl.
1–BALLET SHOES (IRE), 124, f, 2, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Emerald Ring (Ire) (GSP-Ire), by Johannesburg
2nd Dam: Inkling, by Seeking the Gold
3rd Dam: Number, by Nijinsky II
*1st stakes win. O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Emerald Ring Syndicate (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Donnacha O'Brien. €32,450. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $51,168.
2–Lethal Steps (GB), 129, c, 2, Lethal Force (Ire)–Tanda Tula (Ire), by Alhaarth (Ire). (65,000gns Wlg '15 TATFOA; 28,000gns RNA Ylg '16 TATOCT). O-Qatar Racing Ltd. €11,000.
3–Mattymolls Gaga (Ire), 129, c, 2, Dragon Pulse (Ire)–Clenaghcastle Lady (Ire), by Acclamation (GB). (€10,500 Ylg '16 GOFFEB; 22,000gns Ylg '16 TAOCT). O-Arion Racing Club, Andrew Brown & Gemma Brown. €5,500.
Margins: 3 1/4, 1 3/4, 2. Odds: 2.75, 1.50, 14.00.
Also Ran: Guessthebill (Ire), Monkeylou (Ire), Strike For Freedom (Ire), Red Persian (Ire). Scratched: Easter Lily (Ire), Rue d'Antibes (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
