By Tom Frary
Ger Lyons had suffered a rare downturn at The Curragh's weekend meeting when Frenetic (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) was overturned in the G2 Airlie Stud S., but the Irish Oaks-winning trainer was straight back in the game with Peter Brant's Lemista (Ire) (Raven's Pass) in Sunday's G2 Kilboy Estate S. Causing an upset when upstaging Saturday's Classic heroine Even So (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) in the G3 Park Express S. over a mile at Naas Mar. 23, the bay had confirmed her class when adding the Listed Victor McCalmont Memorial S. to her tally over an extended nine furlongs at Gowran Park June 19 and fortunately knew nothing of the new expectations racing in these colours for the first time. If Colin Keane was aware of the pressure, he gave little away as he reserved the 3-1 second favourite towards the back before launching her to take control 150 yards from the post. At the line, she had 3/4 of a length to spare over Lovelier (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), with Kiss For a Jewel (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) half a length behind in third.
“There is no question she's a good filly and she proved that Naas wasn't a fluke,” Lyons said.”At home she doesn't show this and nor does the filly yesterday. She wants soft ground and has been doing it on conditions which don't suit her. I always thought at this stage she'd be running over 12 furlongs and it's testament to her ability that she is winning this over nine. She has oodles of class and the same sort of profile as Even So and Yaxeni. They are three fillies I'm looking forward to as 4-year-olds. We took the view there was no point in having three in the Oaks yesterday when she had a nice chance today.”
Lyons is looking at Champions Day for his star duo and added, “My advice to her new owners would be that she should stay here and enjoy the fillies' programme until at least the end of next year, as she will get her conditions here. Even So will probably have a prep after a break and then go for the Ascot race [the G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S.] and this filly could go for the same race. At that time of the year the ground could be heavy and this one will handle it as will Yaxeni.”
Lemista's dam Shortmile Lady (Ire) (Arcano {Ire}) is a half to the G3 Prix de Meautry winner Indian Maiden (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}), in turn responsible for the G3 World Trophy winner Maid In India (Ire) (Bated Breath {GB}) and the dual listed scorer and G3 Prix de Ris-Orangis runner-up Love Spirit (GB) (Elusive City). From the family of the Listed Surrey S. winner and G3 Sirenia S.-placed Lake Volta (Ire) also by Raven's Pass, Lemista descends from All Rainbows (Bold Hour) who produced the GI Kentucky Derby heroine Winning Colors (Caro {Ire}) and is a half-sister to the US Fillies' Triple Crown-winning champion Chris Evert (Swoon Son). She in turn is the ancestress of the eight-times grade I-winning champion sire Chief's Crown and the GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Hometown Queen (Pleasant Colony). Shortmile Lady also has the unraced Richard Hannon-trained 2-year-old filly Mummy Bear (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}), a yearling colt by Australia (GB) purchased by JC Bloodstock for 58,000gns at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale and a colt foal by Zoffany (Ire).
Sunday, Curragh, Ireland
KILBOY ESTATE S.-G2, €94,400, Curragh, 7-19, 3yo/up, f, 9fT, 1:58.76, gd.
1–LEMISTA (IRE), 128, f, 3, by Raven's Pass
1st Dam: Shortmile Lady (Ire), by Arcano (Ire)
2nd Dam: Jinsiyah, by Housebuster
3rd Dam: Minifah, by Nureyev
(€16,000 Wlg '17 GOFNOV). O-Peter M Brant; B-Drumlin Bloodstock (IRE); T-Ger Lyons; J-Colin Keane. €48,000. Lifetime Record: 6-4-0-0, $144,740. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Lovelier (Ire), 128, f, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Laddies Poker Two (Ire), by Choisir (Aus). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €16,000.
3–Kiss For A Jewel (Ire), 137, f, 4, Kingman%20(GB)#tot">Kingman (GB)–Sapphire (Ire), by Medicean (GB). O/B-Moyglare Stud Farm Ltd (IRE); T-Dermot Weld. €8,000.
Margins: 3/4, HF, HF. Odds: 3.00, 4.00, 22.00.
Also Ran: Crotchet (GB), One Voice (Ire), Snapraeceps (Ire), Cerro Bayo (Ire), Ridenza (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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