Lady Penelope produced a superb front running performance to land the Polonia Stakes at Naas on Saturday, 20 June.
The Phoenix Thoroughbreds owned filly gained her first Listed success thanks in large part to a well-judged ride from jockey Declan McDonogh. In front from the moment the gates opened, the daughter of Darley’s European stallion sensation Night Of Thunder showed all of her qualities to record a one and a quarter-length success with a bit to spare.
“She was very tough and she loved the ground. The drop of rain during the week was a huge help to her, she loves a little bit of juice in the ground,”
Purchased privately by Phoenix Thoroughbreds shortly before her intended run in the G1 Criterium at ParisLongchamp the filly has done well to recover to top form, from what turned out to be a less than ideal experience. Spinning around in the stalls that day, she did well not to badly injure herself and any knock-on effects have been well managed by the O’Brien team.
“The lads at home have done a super job with her, doing a lot of work with her in the afternoons putting her through the stalls,” explained winning rider Declan McDonogh. “I rode her in work when she came to the Curragh a couple of weeks ago and she impressed me there so we were hopeful of a good run and that was important to her today.
“She’s straight forward I just took the lead on her, she has bundles of pace and when I let her down she really picked up well. When I did let her go she put her head low and really helped me. I think she’ll stay 6f.”