Well Bred Zoffany Filly Strikes On Debut

The well-bred Earth Strike (2f Zoffany - Another Storm, by Gone West) made a fine impression on debut when running on well to take the seven furlong fillies maiden at Leopardstown.

Having ridden her half-brother Order Of St George to win the Irish St Leger by 11 lengths, trainer Joseph O’Brien is very familiar with his charge’s family and started Paget Bloodstock’s homebred off at the same track that he guided the champion stayer to an impressive maiden success.

Shane Crosse took the ride, positioning the bay in mid-division and began to make headway from two furlongs out. Taking third inside the final furlong, Earth Strike led soon after and ran on to score by two lengths and three quarters, from stablemate Royal Blend (Zoffany) in third.

The success came as no surprise to connections, with assistant trainer Brendan Powell later commenting, “Earth Strike has done that well, I know they liked her at home. You couldn't ask for any more from her first time out. Hopefully she might be quite smart.”

Multiple Group 1 winner Order Of St George was crowned champion stayer on two occasions and retired to Castle Hyde Stud as a NH stallion in 2019. Earth Strike counts another four Stakes performers as siblings and is a grand-daughter of dual Grade 1 winner Storm Song.