Maiden Winner By Australia Now On Black Type Mission

Connections will now seek black-type with Epona Plays (3f Australia - New Plays, by Oratorio), after gaining a deserved maiden success at Gowran Park on Saturday.

The Willie McCreery-trained bay was sent off favourite for the mile maiden following a fine third behind the highly-rated Keats (Galileo) at Killarney and a narrow defeat at Leopardstown. Billy Lee rode her to chase the leaders, improving to take closer order from two furlongs out and was ridden to lead approaching the final furlong. Running on well under pressure, she won by half a length from Lady Anner (Fastnet Rock), with the front pair finishing over two lengths clear of the third.

The winning trainer later commented, “Epona Plays deserved that. She's a grand filly and we will be trying to get some black type for her. She is still learning, she galloped to the line and she liked that ground.”

Owned and bred by Renzo Forni, Epona Plays is a half-sister to Group 3 winner Dolce Strega (Zoffany). Their dam has a two-year-old colt by Gleneagles to run for her.