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George Strawbridge homebred Indigo Girl strikes in May Hill Stakes
The John Gosden-trained Indigo Girl (2 f ex Montare by Montjeu) emerged as one of the most progressive two-year-olds in training, as she took the step from maiden company into stakes class in her stride when landing the May Hill Stakes (Gr 2, 1m) at Doncaster on Thursday and in the process handed perennial Darley stallion Dubawi (Dubai Millennium) with his 188th stakes winner.
Last seen breaking her maiden at Yarmouth on August 30, Indigo Girl broke well from the gates and was tucked in at the back by Frankie Dettori.
As the field entered the last few furlongs Dettori asked the daughter of Dubawi for her effort and after showing a touch of greenness in the closing stages, she was able to come away with three-quarters of a length victory over Dubai Fountain (Teofilo). Zabeel Queen (Frankel) finished another length away in third.
“She did it very smoothly at Yarmouth and she’s been in great form since. The race didn’t knock her back a bit – it was rather like a piece of work,” said Gosden.
“If we’d gone for another novice race, she would have had to lump a lot of weight and I don’t like doing that with two-year-olds. You can end up giving 7lb to a Group horse and you don’t know it.
“The May Hill is a beautiful race over the straight mile. The track is in beautiful nick and I thought we’d bring her here and see if we could nick a bit of black type.
“She relaxed beautifully, which is key, and smoothly came through. I admit when she hit the front she ran around, but that’s the trainer’s fault because when I work them at home, I don’t like them bursting clear and breaking another one’s heart.
“She’s obviously got a lot of talent. As long as she continues to enjoy her racing, she can move upward.”
Considering future targets, the trainer said: “There are two options this year – the Prix Marcel Boussac and the Fillies’ Mile. We could look at either of those or wait until next year, we’ll just have to see at this stage.
“Her mother (Montare) won a Prix Royal-Oak and her full-sister (Journey) won the Fillies & Mares Stakes on Champions Day at Ascot over a mile and a half. Funnily enough, I see this one as more of a mile to a mile-and-a-quarter filly. She travels strong and has a great turn of foot.”
Hailing from the famous George Strawbridge-bred family, Indigo Girl is one of six winners out of 2006 Prix Royal Oak (Gr 1, 3100m) winner Montare (Montjeu), making her a sister to Journey, who John Gosden sent out to win the British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes (Gr 1, 1m4f) in 2016 and she too was ridden by Dettori to victory in the Group 1.
The filly’s second dam is dual Listed winner Contare (Shirley Heights), who is herself the grandam of Group 2 winner Worth Waiting (Bated Breath).
Further back this is the same family as Tiakinui (Keeper), who won the Seymour Cup (Listed, 1600m) in 2011.