By Tom Frary
The Irish Champions Festival began with a renewal of Leopardstown's Listed Ballylinch Stud Irish EBF Ingabelle S. which may prove better than its status in time as two class acts dominated proceedings throughout. While Ballydoyle's 13-8 favourite Content (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) did her thing by going fast in front and keeping at it, Natalia Lupini's Kitty Rose (GB) (Invincible Army {Ire}–Varnish {GB}, by Choisir {Aus}) had too many guns from over a furlong out and stretched to an impressive 2 1/2-length success under Billy Lee. In doing so, the 3-1 second favourite who had made an instant splash for owners Nigel O'Hare, Gary Devlin and the Kabin Racing Syndicate in a decent maiden at Naas last month provided her first-season sire with his initial black-type winner.
Kitty Rose lands the Irish Champions Festival opener!
It's a first Listed success for rising trainer Natalia Lupini and what a time to get it, success here in the @BallylinchStud @IrishEBF_ Ingabelle Stakes at @LeopardstownRC 👏 @wjlee24786 pic.twitter.com/1FzgqiDexe
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 9, 2023
For Milan-born and Co. Down-based Lupini, the win was a landmark moment in her fledgling training career. The winner, a 20,000gns Tatts Book 3 bargain, beat the smart yardstick Tannola (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}) decisively on debut in the race that the stable's Highly Desirable (Ire) (Twilight Son {GB}) had been third in last year before going on to finish in the same spot in this race. “She's a big filly, very honest and when she gets into a rhythm she gallops towards the line. She gives it all,” she said. “The lads were looking at the Guineas next year. She'll be a stronger filly and she won't have any problems over a mile.”
“We'll see how she comes out of this race and we'll talk to the owners and see what they would like to do,” the trainer, who is expecting a child in October, added. “We would like to give her a bit of time in the winter to fill out. She's a big filly and will benefit from a winter break. She'll be a nice three-year-old and we're very much looking forward to having her next year. Hopefully we'll get to train her.”
Like the card's G2 Solonaway S. winner Flight Plan (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Kitty Rose hails from the family of Whitewater Affair (GB) (Machiavellian). She is currently the last known foal out of the dam Varnish (GB) (Choisir {Aus}), a grandaughter of that G2 Prix de Pomone winner's half-sister White House (GB) (Pursuit Of Love {GB}) who produced the G2 Ribblesdale S. runner-up Eldalil (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}) and who is the second dam of the G3 Round Tower S.-winning sire Cappella Sansevero (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) who was third in the G1 Phoenix S.
Saturday, Leopardstown, Ireland
BALLYLINCH STUD IRISH EBF INGABELLE S.-Listed, €100,000, Leopardstown, 9-9, 2yo, f, 7f 72yT, 1:30.14, gd.
1–KITTY ROSE (GB), 128, f, 2, by Invincible Army (Ire)
1st Dam: Varnish (GB), by Choisir (Aus)
2nd Dam: Bronze Star (GB), by Mark Of Esteem (Ire)
3rd Dam: White House (GB), by Pursuit Of Love (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. (20,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Nigel O'Hare, Gary Devlin & Kabin Racing Syndicate; B-Carmel Stud (GB); T-Natalia Lupini; J-Billy Lee. €60,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $80,125.
2–Content (Ire), 128, f, 2, Galileo (Ire)–Mecca's Angel (Ire), by Dark Angel (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Westerberg, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor & D Smith; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €20,000.
3–Serious Notions (GB), 128, f, 2, Advertise (GB)–Darling Grace (GB), by Nayef. 1ST BLACK TYPE. (50,000gns RNA Wlg '21 TADEWE; €68,000 Ylg '22 GOFOR). O-Gaynor Bloodstock LLC; B-Highgate Stud (GB); T-Ger Lyons. €10,000.
Margins: 2HF, HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 3.00, 1.63, 28.00.
Also Ran: Sea The Boss (GB), Making Time (Ire), Nemonte (Ire), Apricot Ice (Ire), Elegant Madame (Ire), Question Of Class (Ire). Scratched: Grand Job.
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