By Tom Frary
Like Winter (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Rain Goddess was under David Wachman's auspices in 2016 and entered the hallowed Ballydoyle stable with an unblemished record having won her sole start at Leopardstown in September. Out of the frame on her first three starts for Rosegreen but progressing each time, the bay was fifth in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches at Deauville May 13 and was caught late by Con Te Partiro (Scat Daddy) when runner-up in Royal Ascot's Listed Sandringham H. June 21. Runner-up in the July 2 G1 Pretty Polly S. and July 15 G1 Irish Oaks at this venue, she had to bounce back from a subsequent eighth in the Aug. 12 GI Beverly D. S. but proved yet another hardy performer from her establishment to earn a first black-type success and complete an afternoon group-race double for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore. Settled in third early with stamina assured, she took until the final 200 yards to get past her stablemate and long-time leader Key To My Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and the line came in time as the other joint-favourite Intimation flew late.
Aidan O'Brien is thinking of a return to the States with Rain Goddess. “It was great to get her back,” he commented. “She's a very well-bred filly and Ryan gave her a great ride. The last day in America she was just drawn out a little bit too far. Even though she ran over a mile and a half, I'd say probably a mile and a furlong or a mile and a quarter is her trip. The [G2] Blandford [S. at The Curragh Sept. 10] looks perfect for her. She could go for the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf at the end. I think it's a mile and a furlong this year.”
Rain Goddess is the first foal out of the former Ballydoyle runner Where, who was a sprint maiden after four starts and who also has an as-yet unraced 2-year-old filly by Frankel (GB) named D'Accord (Ire). Her dam Virginia Waters clinched Classic glory in the G1 1000 Guineas, while the third dam is the G3 Prix de Royaumont winner Legend Maker. She also produced the G2 Gallinule S. winner and G1 Irish Derby runner-up Alexander of Hales (Danehill) and his sire full-brother Chevalier (Ire) who was second in the G1 Criterium International. Their full-sibling Canterbury Lace is the dam of the G1 Matron S. winner Chachamaidee (GB) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) and G3 Fred Darling S. and G3 Oak Tree S. scorer J Wonder (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), while this is also the family of this year's G3 John Porter S. winner Muntahaa (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) and G2 Challenge S. scorer Miss Lucifer (Fr) (Noverre). The fourth dam 4th dam High Spirited (Ire) (Shirley Heights {GB}) is a full-sister to the G1 Premio Roma heroine High Hawk (Ire), whose best progeny was the triple group 1-winning champion sire In the Wings (GB).
Sunday, Curragh, Ireland
SNOW FAIRY FILLIES S.-G3, €65,000, CUR, 8-27, 3yo/up, f, 9fT, 1:53.45, gd.
1–RAIN GODDESS (IRE), 126, f, 3, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Where (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire)
2nd Dam: Virginia Waters, by Kingmambo
3rd Dam: Legend Maker (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
*1st stakes win. O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Where Syndicate (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €38,350. Lifetime Record: MG1SP-Ire & SP-Eng, 9-2-3-0, $249,953. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”irt-shell”]2–Intimation (GB), 133, m, 5, Dubawi (Ire)–Infallible (GB), by Pivotal (GB). O/B-Cheveley Park Stud Ltd (GB); T-Sir Michael Stoute. €13,000.
3–Dawn of Hope (Ire), 133, f, 4, Mastercraftsman (Ire)–Sweet Firebird (Ire), by Sadler's Wells. (€220,000 Ylg '14 GOFORB). O-Saleh Al Homaizi & Imad Al Sagar; B-Gerrardstown House Stud (IRE); T-Roger Varian. €6,500.
Margins: HF, HF, NO. Odds: 2.75, 2.75, 8.00.
Also Ran: Key To My Heart (Ire), Beautiful Morning (GB), Glamorous Approach (Ire), Making Light (Ire), Flying Fairies (Ire), Aurora Butterfly (Ire), Dilmun, Puppetshow (Ire), Aim to Please (Fr), Kamili (Ire), Signe (Ire), Pavlenko (Jpn). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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