Pretty Gorgeous lands Fillies’ Mile
Pretty Gorgeous (2 f ex Lady Gorgeous by Compton Place) added a much deserved Group 1 to her CV when she landed the Fillies’ Mile (Gr 1, 1m) at Newmarket on Friday and in doing so became Lawman’s (Invincible Spirit) seventh elite level winner.
Trained by Joseph O’Brien and ridden by Shane Crosse, who was also enjoying his first win at Group 1 level, the two-year-old filly was last seen being narrowly beaten in the Moyglare Stud Stakes (Gr 1, 7f) at the Curragh on September 13 and she clearly thrived being stepped up to mile, showing a gutsy attitude to beat Indigo Girl (Dubawi) by half a length, while Snowfall (Deep Impact) was the same distance away in third.
However, the finishing order faces significant revision after it emerged that the Aidan O'Brien-trained duo of Mother Earth (Zoffany) and Snowfall, who was officially given as having finished third, carried each other's numbers and intended riders.
Snowfall, who was supposed to carry the number nine and be ridden by James Doyle, actually carried the number five cloth and was ridden by William Buick. She finished eighth of ten and not third, whereas Mother Earth was the one who came home third in the number nine cloth under James Doyle.
While no official action has been taken, it is likely it will result in disqualification for the two runners.
Meanwhile, winning trainer Joseph O’Brien said the winner would now be put away for the season and be aimed at next year’s 1,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m).
"Very impressed, delighted for everyone at home. She's an outstanding physical specimen and from the first day she worked, she's been impressive at home and hasn't disappointed here,” said O’Brien.
"It's likely that she'll be put away now and trained for the Guineas next spring. She's very good, top class, and proved that today. I'm delighted for Shane. He's been with us for a long time and he's a very, very good rider."
Crosse was equally vehement in his praise for the filly, he said: “Unbelievable. It's crazy coming here getting these rides. A big thanks has to go to Joseph and the whole team, I'm just so lucky to have the role I have in such a big operation. There might not be a crowd here but I'll take it all in.
"I had an okay position but as she's so big, she didn't come down the hill all that great. Once I got her balanced she did it well."
Pretty Gorgeous was snapped up by her trainer for 525,000gns at Book 1 of the 2019 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale from the Glenvale Stud, having made €55,000 when purchased by Mags O’Toole at the Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale the year before.
The filly is out of Listed-placed Compton Place (Indian Ridge) mare Lady Gorgeous, making her a half-sister to Prix Nureyev (Listed, 2000m) winner Alwaab (Toronado).
Lady Gorgeous herself is out of US Listed winner Cayman Sunset (Night Shift), who is also the dam of Kartica (Rainbow Quest) - the dam of Coronation Stakes (Gr 1, 1m) winner Qemah (Danehill Dancer).
Lawman is represented in Australia by Group 2 winners Libran and Chief Ironside and he stood the 2020 at a fee of €10,000.
Pretty Gorgeous - she's marvellous
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) October 9, 2020
Five races
Three wins
G1 Fillies' Mile
G2 Debutante States
Pretty Gorgeous captures the @bet365 Fillies' Mile for @JosephOBrien2 & @ShaneCrosse at @NewmarketRace
Results & free replays https://t.co/sBcsavHpYf pic.twitter.com/QglyDkEHJU
