By Tom Frary
Coming into Saturday's G3 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Give Thanks S. with a growing reputation, Team Valor's La Petite Coco (Ire) (Ruler of the World {Ire}) only served to enhance it significantly as she ruled with an iron fist in the Cork feature. Runner-up to the re-opposing Willow (Ire) (American Pharoah) in the June 23 Listed Naas Oaks Trial before dominating a conditions event over 11 furlongs at Killarney July 12, the 2-1 favourite was always travelling enthusiastically behind the front pair and when given her head by Billy Lee took off with 2 1/2 furlongs to race. Stretching clear over the furthest trip she has encountered so far, the bay hit the line strong to score by 5 1/2 lengths from the G3 Munster Oaks winner Thunder Kiss (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}). “We've had her since April and she has not put a foot wrong,” trainer Paddy Twomey said. “She is progressing physically and is enjoying training and has plenty of talent. She has plenty of entries and I said after Killarney that the [Oct. 17 GI] E. P. Taylor is a possible target, but I have her in the [Oct. 16 G1 QIPCO] Champion Fillies and Mares Stakes and the [G1] Prix Vermeillle [at ParisLongchamp Sept. 12] also. She is versatile ground-wise and although she has the pace for 10 furlongs, a mile and a half is no problem to her.”
La Petite Coco is the first runner from three live foals out of the unraced La Petite Virginia (Ger) (Konigstiger {Ger}), who is a half to the G1 Deutsches Derby hero Lavirco (Ger) (Konigsstuhl {Ger}) and his G2 Deutsches St Leger-winning full-brother Laveron (Ger) who was also third in the Deutsches Derby. Also kin to the G3 Furstenberg-Rennen winner Lyonel's Glory (GB) (Green Desert), she is a daughter of La Virginia (Ger) (Surumu {Ger}) who is the second dam of the G3 Badener Stutenpreis winner and G1 Premio Lydia Tesio runner-up Lacy (Ger) (Authorized {Ire}) and the G3 Preis des Winterfavoriten winner Langtang (Ger) (Campanologist). La Virginia is a full-sister to the group 3 scorer and G2 German 1000 Guineas runner-up La Colorada (Ger), whose own impressive progeny list is headed by the legendary triple group 1-winning champion and leading sire Lomitas (GB) with this being the dam line of the blue hen Love (GB) (Crepello {GB}). Her descendants include another Deutsches Derby hero in Lagunas (GB) and another notorious sire in Lord of England (Ger). La Petite Virginia's yearling filly is by Ivawood (Ire).
Saturday, Cork, Ireland
IRISH STALLION FARMS EBF GIVE THANKS S.-G3, €65,000, Cork, 8-7, 3yo/up, f/m, 12fT, 2:39.84, sf.
1–LA PETITE COCO (IRE), 127, f, 3, by Ruler of the World (Ire)
1st Dam: La Petite Virginia (Ger), by Konigstiger (Ger)
2nd Dam: La Virginia (Ger), by Surumu (Ger)
3rd Dam: La Dorada (Ire), by Kronzeuge (Fr)
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Team Valor International LLC; B-Mr B Schone (IRE); T-Paddy Twomey; J-Billy Lee. €39,000. Lifetime Record: 6-3-1-0, $85,257. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Thunder Kiss (Ire), 140, f, 4, Night of Thunder (Ire)–Desert Snow (GB), by Teofilo (Ire). O-Newtown Anner Stud Farm Ltd; B-Newtownanner Stud (IRE); T-Ger Lyons. €13,000.
3–Federica Sophia (Ire), 137, f, 4, Galileo (Ire)–Sapphire (Ire), by Medicean (GB). O/B-Moyglare Stud Farm Ltd (IRE); T-Dermot Weld. €6,500.
Margins: 5HF, HD, NO. Odds: 2.00, 2.75, 9.00.
Also Ran: Amma Grace (Ire), Willow (Ire), Yaxeni (Fr), Camphor (Ire), Rosscarbery (Ger), High Heels (Ire), Traisha (Ire). Scratched: Silence Please (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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