One of the first Invincible Spirit sons to go to stud in Europe, Lawman delivered a Group I winner overnight when two year-old filly Pretty Gorgeous took out the Group I Fillies Mile (1m) at Newmarket, the race producing controversy with a mix up involving two Aidan O’Brien trained runners.
The Aidan O'Brien-trained pair of Mother Earth (Zoffany) and Snowfall (Galileo), who was officially said to have finished third, carried each other's numbers and intended jockeys.
Snowfall, a 50-1 shot 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, an 18-1 shot, was the one who came home in third in the number nine cloth under James Doyle.
"I was tied up all day so I didn't see the race live and it was brought to my attention from Twitter," O’Brien told the Racing Post.
"That was the first I was aware of it. I had listened to the race, so when I looked at the replay after it was brought to my attention, I could see straight away.
"I contacted the BHA straight away and let them know what is after happening. We have a team based in England these days because of the coronavirus restrictions, so the problem is the lads that are with the horses at home can't always go racing with them."
That sort of mix up would never happen in Australia because of branding providing an immediate visual reference to identify a horse.
The win
“Pretty Gorgeous is an outstanding physical specimen and from the first day she worked, she's been impressive at home and hasn't disappointed here. It's likely that she'll be put away now and trained for the Guineas next spring,” said Joseph O’Brien.
“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.”
Bought for 525,000 guineas from the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Pretty Gorgeous was a successful pinhook having been bought from the Arqana December Breeding Stock sale for 55,000 euros the year before.
She has the overall record of three wins and two seconds from five starts and is a half-sister to stakes-winner Alwaab from stakes-placed Lady Gorgeous, a half-sister to the dam of dual Group I winning filly Quemah.
Pretty Gorgeous is the sixth Group I winner among 34 stakes-winners sired by Lawman, who stands in France at a fee of 10,000 euros.
