A good last start fourth in the Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes, Tulip (images Steve Hart) confirmed the strength of that form when overcoming an outside gate to race away from the Sydney fillies and win the 1200 metre dash by a length and three-quarters.
Winning rider Kerrin McEvoy was always confident."She's done it nicely," he said.
"She handled herself perfectly around this way of going for the first time. I always felt she was going to get the job done."
Tulip comes from the powerful Hayes/ Dabernig stable, who won the Blue Diamond with unbeaten Fastnet Rock filly Catchy and will clash with that filly again next Saturday in the $3.5 million Group I ATC Golden Slipper.
"She was very impressive today," Ben Hayes said. "She just sat midfield and she was three wide no cover and she finished the race off great."
A $400,000 NZB Premier purchase from the Curraghmore Stud draft for BBA Ireland / Lindsay Park Racing, Tulip runs in the Coolmore navy blue for Coolmore and partners.
A half-sister to Group III winner Sacred Eye, Tulip was foaled and raised at Coolmore and is the fourth winner from Group III winning Rock of Gibraltar (IRE) mare Musidora.
The current yearling from Musidora is a colt by Pierro that has been entered for the 2017 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale by Coolmore as Lot 251.
Tulip is not only the first stakes-winner for Pierro, but gives him an all-important runner in the Golden Slipper, which Pierro won in 2012, before going on the win the 2YO Triple Crown claiming memorable wins in the ATC Sires Produce Stakes and ATC Champagne Stakes.
Now the leading first season sire in the country, Pierro has 33 entries for the 2017 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
