Holy Roman Emperor Filly Wins Maiden In Style

Cherry Bloom (2f Holy Roman Emperor - Loveliness, by Xaar) continued Willie McCreery and Renzo Forni’s fruitful association when winning Saturday’s five furlong maiden at Down Royal.

Making her second start, the bay was held up by Chris Hayes and was pushed along from two furlongs out. Ridden into second approaching the final furlong, she ran on strongly to lead in the final 110 yards and kept on well to beat the favourite Caleta Sunrise (Pride Of Dubai) by a length and a quarter.

Speaking after the race, the winning jockey said, “Cherry Bloom is a very nice filly. They went very quick and she travelled nice. Willie is confident that she'll stay further and I think she will too.”

The daughter of Holy Roman Emperor is owned by breeder Renzo Forni, whose homebred Epona Plays (Australia) recorded her third Group win last month. McCreery has also trained Forni’s homebred Dolce Strega (Zoffany) to win the Group 3 Athasi Stakes.