The four-year-old filly trained by Charlie Appleby returned in style yesterday afternoon to win at Meydan under a patient ride from jockey Mickael Barzalona. Having not been seen racing since her victory at Newmarket in the Fillies’ Mile on the 28th September 2012 she was one of the horses suspended for six months after the Mahmood Al Zarooni scandal.
Having sat out the back she readily ran on and overtook the favourite Flotilla who disappointed when being asked to pick up. Winning by 3/4 of a length at 2/1 trainer Charlie Appebly was delighted with her performance and said:
“The filly was training nicely but we’ve asked no serious questions. She looks great in herself but is only 80 per cent at the moment and can only come on for what she did tonight. I’m just delighted for Sheikh Mohammed and Godolphin giving this filly a chance to show what she was as a two-year-old. We had high hopes for her as a three-year-old and hopefully she’s got a lovely career ahead of her as a four-year-old.”
He talked of her further career:
“The plan was always to go to the Balanchine and if she comes out of this race well that’s what we’ll do. After that it will be Sheikh Mohammed and Simon Crisford (racing manager) to decide which route we go, whether she runs on World Cup night or put her away and take her back to Europe.”
