Ornellaia (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), winner last out at Goodwood Aug. 3, will target a series of group tests over the coming weeks, according to Tom Pennington, racing and operations manager for Amo Racing. The Dominic Ffrench Davis-trained filly is slated to make her first foray into group company Saturday in the G2 Prix du Calvados at Deauville.
Prior to her seven-furlong score, the 2-year-old finished third behind Sacred Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire})–subsequent G3 Princess Margaret S. winner–in a six-furlong Newmarket maiden July 13.
“We went to Newmarket on debut knowing she would benefit from the experience and we were encouraged when the winner went on to win the Princess Margaret,” said Pennington. “I was a bit disappointed to see the Godolphin filly that finished second [Dubai Treasure {Ire}, by Exceed and Excel {Aus}] get beat at Yarmouth [Aug. 9], but we knew our filly had a good deal of ability. We went to Goodwood pretty confident that she would get the job done at seven furlongs being by Night Of Thunder and with there being some cut in the ground. She went and did it nicely.”
As for her upcoming itinerary, he added, “She's in the Prix du Calvados at Deauville and that is on the radar at the minute, but she's also in a lot of nice races. She's in the [G1] Moyglare Stud S. [Curragh, Sept. 10], she could go to the [G3] Prestige [Fillies' S.] at Goodwood [Aug. 26] at the end of the month. She's potentially a very nice filly who we think is probably group class.”
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
