By Tom Frary
Two progressive 3-year-old fillies fought out the finish of Wednesday's rescheduled G3 Coolmore No Nay Never Fairy Bridge S., with Fitzwilliam Racing's Champers Elysees (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}) emerging on top of Haras de Saint Pair's Pearls Galore (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) in what could turn out to be a signpost to bigger things for both. Last seen winning by seven lengths in the Listed Corrib Fillies S. over seven furlongs at Galway July 28, Champers Elysees who traded as the 5-6 favourite going an extra half furlong here tracked the early leaders under Niall McCullagh trapped wide without cover. Sticking with Pearls Galore as that talented and unexposed rival headed stand's side, she headed her approaching the furlong pole and asserted to score by half a length as they pulled five lengths clear of Parent's Prayer (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) in third.
Champers Elysees had got off the mark at the fourth attempt over six furlongs on heavy ground at The Curragh in September prior to finishing runner-up in Naas's “Birdcatcher” nursery over that trip the following month. Showing how much improvement she had made over the winter on her return when successful in a seven-furlong handicap back at The Curragh June 12, the bay not only proved up to listed class at the Galway festival but progressed markedly for that impressive first black-type success and underlined her quality with this performance in the race that was lost to the rain at its traditional home last week. “I was so sick last week when Tipperary was called off, but thankfully the race was rescheduled to here and I thought the track would suit her well,” trainer Johnny Murtagh said. “She really improved from Galway and had a better prep coming into this race. If everything is alright she'll go for the [G1] Matron [at Leopardstown Sept. 12]. It's a bit tight and if this race was on last week it would have given us two weeks, but she's tough and hardy. I'm delighted for Niall that he was able to ride a group winner for us. He's a big part of my life and of our team since we started. He's been out injured a long time and has worked hard to get back. I'm delighted to be able to pay him back as he put in a lot of work early in the year and then missed out on a lot of winners.”
One of two leading ladies from the Murtagh stable alsongside the G3 Derrinstown Stud Fillies S. winner and G1 Prix Rothschild third Know It All (GB) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), Champers Elysees hails from a family mainly made up of sprinters. Her second dam is the G3 Goldene Peitsche-winning German champion Premiere Cuvee (GB) (Formidable), who was also second in the G3 Prix du Gros Chene. That makes the dam La Cuvee (GB) (Mark of Esteem {Ire}) a half-sister to the G3 Premio Sergio Cumani winner She Bat (GB) (Batshoof {GB}), who is in turn responsible for four black-type performers including the G2 Premio Regina Elena (Italian 1000 Guineas) third She Basic (Ire) (Desert Prince {Ire}). The dam also has the unraced 2-year-old colt Performance Plus (Ire) (Alhebayeb {Ire}) and a yearling colt by Mehmas (Ire).
Wednesday, Gowran Park, Ireland
COOLMORE STUD NO NAY NEVER FAIRY BRIDGE S.-G3, €55,000, Gowran, 9-2, 3yo/up, f/m, 7f 110yT, 1:36.40, sf.
1–CHAMPERS ELYSEES (IRE), 128, f, 3, by Elzaam (Aus)
1st Dam: La Cuvee (GB), by Mark of Esteem (Ire)
2nd Dam: Premiere Cuvee (GB), by Formidable
3rd Dam: Clicquot (Ire), by Bold Lad (Ire)
1ST GROUP WIN. (€12,500 Wlg '17 TATFBR; €28,000 Ylg '18 TIRSEP; €95,000 RNA 2yo '19 GOFHIT). O-Fitzwilliam Racing; B-Karl Bowen (IRE); T-Johnny Murtagh; J-Niall McCullagh. €33,000. Lifetime Record: 8-4-2-1, $128,072. Werk Nick Rating: C. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Pearls Galore (Fr), 128, f, 3, Invincible Spirit (Ire)–Pearl Banks (GB), by Pivotal (GB). O/B-SCEA Haras de Saint Pair (FR); T-Paddy Twomey. €11,000.
3–Parent's Prayer (Ire), 128, f, 3, Kingman (GB)#tot">Kingman (GB)–Pure Excellence (GB), by Exceed and Excel (Aus). (€165,000 2yo '19 TATGOR). O-Ecurie Ama.Zing Team; B-Sun Kingdom Pty Ltd (IRE); T-Archie Watson. €5,500.
Margins: HF, 5, 1 3/4. Odds: 0.83, 3.00, 22.00.
Also Ran: Rocket Science (Ire), Soul Search (Ire), Miss Myers (Ire), Auxilia (Ire), Faire Croire (Ire), Precious Moments (Ire), Eden Quay (Ire), Tango (Ire). Scratched: Lady Scathach (Ire), Romantic Proposal (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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