Purple Lily (Ire)

Sunday's TRM Equine Nutrition Race at Naas looked an intriguing contest, with four winners lined up including one who was Group 1-placed at two. At the end, there was one who was in total command and that was the filly Purple Lily (Ire) (Calyx {GB}-Boca Raton {Ire}, by Approve {Ire}) who flashed distinct Classic potential to earn TDN Rising Star status. Racing for Alan O'Flynn's Zinlo Syndicate, the Paddy Twomey-trained Tatts Ireland Goresbridge Breeze Up sensation had made an instant impression when off the mark in an often-informative Galway maiden in August. On only her second start, the 10-11 favourite was able to master Ballydoyle's G1 Criterium International third Portland (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and the Johnny Murtagh-trained course-and-distance maiden winner Chicago Critic (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) and make light of the testing conditions.

“She's a nice filly and she had wintered well. She has size and scope and is a strong filly. We just gave her the one run after the breeze-ups last year and she was good,” Twomey said. “I like her, the horses have done loads of cantering but they haven't done much fast work. I thought she was a nice filly and when you are taking on a 108-rated colt you are asking them a question and she did it well.”

Content to let the two class colts of the race go on from the outset, Billy Lee asked the question of Purple Lily heading to two out and she responded gamely to subdue them soon after. At the line, she had put three lengths between her and the solid yardstick Portland, with another 4 1/4 lengths back to Chicago Critic in third. “We might look at a Guineas trial here and go for an Irish Guineas,” her trainer added. “I think Newmarket would come at her a bit quick and I think we'll take our time-Billy [Lee] says something like the [G1] Pretty Polly might suit her. Hopefully we have a good year with her.”

Calyx's third TDN Rising Star, including last year's G2 Duchess of Cambridge S. winner Persian Dreamer, Purple Lily is the third foal out of Boca Raton, a half-sister to the G1 Irish Oaks third and G3 Lancashire Oaks runner-up Lady's Secret (Ire) (Alzao). She also has a 2-year-old full-brother to the winner named Cataluyna (Ire) and a yearling filly by Cotai Glory (GB).