Group race assignments await Lady Penelope “sooner rather than later” after her impressive front running victory in the Polonia Stakes at Nass on Sunday, June 21.
The victory for the Phoenix Thoroughbreds owned filly was her first at Listed level as she held off her rivals to record a length and a quarter victory and a step up in class seems almost imminent for the daughter of Night Of Thunder.
“She had some good form as a two-year-old but she wasn’t quite a stakes winner.” Explained trainer Joseph O’Brien. “That was the main objective this season, to win a stakes race, so it’s good that she achieved that so early in the year. Now we will look at winning more stakes races and take her up to group level. We’re excited about her going forward.”
That step-up could come on Lady Penelope’s next start with a few potential targets already pencilled in.
“There’s a couple of options for her,” Continued O’Brien. “There’s a Listed race at Fairyhouse and there’s a group race back at Naas for her so we’ll see how she trains but will be stepping up into Group company sooner rather than later.”
“We were hopeful for a good run and we thought the race was suitable for her, we perhaps weren’t expecting her to win but the performance came as no surprise,” said O’Brien looking back on the race. “She seems to have come out of the race well. Obviously, we were very happy with the performance, her first run of the year. She ran right up to some of her best form and hopefully there is some progression from here.”