By Tom Frary
Aidan O'Brien's 2024 Flat Turf campaign got off to a perfect beginning at The Curragh on Monday as the 3-year-old filly Brilliant (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}–Plying, by Hard Spun) flew the flag in the G3 Lodge Park Stud Irish EBF Park Express S.
Runner-up in the G3 Newtownanner Stud Irish EBF S. over this mile trip and track and third in the seven-furlong G3 Weld Park S. also here last term, the 7-2 second favourite was steadied towards the rear early by Declan McDonogh and crept into contention once straightened for home. Getting to the front a furlong out, the 1000 Guineas entry had to battle on the testing surface to see off fellow 3-year-old Alpheratz (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}) but proved up to the task to prevail by half a length.
“I think she probably had the best form in the race and, on her first run of the year, I'm delighted with her,” O'Brien said. “She'd been working nicely and is a hardy filly. It's a big call for three-year-olds against older horses on that ground at this time of the year. She'll step up and a mile is good for her. That will be her trial and she'll go into one of the Guineas now after that. She might end up going to Newmarket and back here. She doesn't really want that ground, but she went in it.”
Brilliant proves a well-named winner of Group 3 honours today, showing a great attitude to win the @LodgeParkStud @IrishEBF_ Park Express Stakes for Aidan O'Brien and @declanmcdonogh pic.twitter.com/2A0yyDaDCF
— The Curragh Racecourse (@curraghrace) March 18, 2024
Pedigree Notes
Brilliant, who was last seen finishing fifth in the G1 Fillies' Mile, is the third black-type winner for Plying, with the chief progeny being the G1 Sussex S., G1 July Cup, G1 Coronation S. and G1 Cheveley Park S. heroine Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never). The dam, a half-sister to the G2 Flying Childers S. and G3 Princess Margaret S.-placed Kissing Lights (Ire) (Machiavellian) also connected to the sires Raise A Grand (Ire) and Weldnaas, has a 2-year-old filly by Lope De Vega (Ire) to follow.
Monday, The Curragh, Ireland
LODGE PARK STUD IRISH EBF PARK EXPRESS S.-G3, €68,500, Curragh, 3-18, 3yo/up, f/m, 8fT, 1:51.68, hy.
1–BRILLIANT (IRE), 120, f, 3, by Gleneagles (Ire)
1st Dam: Plying, by Hard Spun
2nd Dam: Nasaieb (Ire), by Fairy King
3rd Dam: Atyaaf, by Irish River (Fr)
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. (650,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-D Smith,Mrs J Magnier,M Tabor,Westerberg; B-Jossestown Farm (IRE); T-Aidan P. O'Brien; J-Declan Patrick McDonogh. €41,100. Lifetime Record: 10-2-1-3, $103,483. *1/2 to Alexander James (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), SW-Fr, $129,284; 1/2 to Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never), Hwt. Older Mare-Eng- at 5 – 7 f., Hwt. Older Mare-Eur- at 5 – 7 f., MG1SW-Eng, $2,546,735. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Alpheratz (Ire), 120, f, 3, Phoenix Of Spain (Ire)–Rosie Scot (Ire), by Holy Roman Emperor (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (15,000gns Ylg '22 TATSOM). O-Gerard Kervick; B-Lynn Lodge Stud (IRE); T-Joseph G Murphy. €13,700.
3–Goldana (Ire), 140, m, 5, Galileo Gold (GB)–Humble And Proud (Ire), by Pivotal (GB). (£40,000 Ylg '20 GOFOR; €120,000 HRA '22 ARQDEC). O-Sights On Gold Partnership; B-Patrick Grogan (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien. €6,850.
Margins: HF, 3/4, 4 1/4. Odds: 3.50, 4.00, 1.50.
Also Ran: Everlasting (Ire), Magical Sunset (Ire), Mammas Girl (GB), Sli Na Ghealai (Ire), Lady of Inishfree (Ire), Cadeau Belle (Fr), Peace of Mine (Ire). Scratched: You Send Me (Ire).
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