After winning the Group II Tea Rose Stakes last season
Godolphin's royally-bred filly Pearls went winless in her next six starts before
opening the new season in style in Saturday's Group III Toy Show Quality
(1300m) at Randwick.
Ridden by Brenton Avdulla, the John O'Shea-trained mare
received a charmed run, one out and one back before Avulla souled her to the
front at the top of the rise.
The daughter of Exceed and Excel held the challenge of a
determined Dixie Blossoms (Street Sense) by a half neck with another length
back to Elle Lou (Snitzel) in third. (photo Lisa Grimm)
In earning her second stakes victory, Pearls advances her
overall record to 3 wins and 2 seconds from 10 starts with earnings of $285,175.
O'Shea said the $400,000 Group II Golden Pendant (1400m) for
fillies and mares, run at Rosehill on September 24, would be the immediate target
for Pearls.
"I think seven furlongs is about as far as she wants.
The Golden Pendant looks a nice race for her and we'll probably give her one
more run before that," O'Shea said.
O'Shea was quick to praise Avdulla who the stable has
patronised regularly while James McDonald was riding in Europe.
"I think he's an outstanding rider. He's got a big role
to play for us, particularly as we are trying to restrict James (McDonald) to a
certain weight and obviously Brenton has the capacity to ride light," O'Shea
said.
"Brenton has come a long way in the last 12 months. He
works very hard and his feedback is excellent."
Pearls is the fifth foal out of Darley's prized matron, the
Singspiel mare Accessories (GB) who was retired to stud as a three year-old
without racing after suffering a career ending injury.
Her first foal was the Elusive Quality colt Bullbars who was
a Group III winner and second in the Group I VRC Australian Guineas.
He was followed by the striking chestnut colt Helmet (Exceed
and Excel) who earned Group 1 wins in the ATC Sires Produce Stakes, ATC
Champagne Stakes and MRC Caulfield Guineas.
The third foal was the Commands colt Epaulette the winner of
the Group 1 ATC Golden Rose and BRC Doomben 10000.
Helmet and Epaulette both stand at Darley while Bullbars
found a home at stud in New Zealand.
The fourth foal, the Street Cry (IRE) filly Brilliance,
never raced. She had an Exceed And Excel colt last spring and was bred back to
Exceed and Excel.
Accessories (GB) has a 2yo Lonhro filly named Maquilla and a
yearling filly by Exceed And Excel. She was bred back to Sepoy last spring.
