First Crop Leading Light Filly Impresses On US Debut

Zoom Zoom Zoe (4f Leading Light - Sixofone, by Tikkanen) wasted no time in making an impression Stateside, as she won the maiden fillies’ hurdle on the US return of jump racing at Middleburg.

The first crop daughter of Leading Light was purchased privately after finishing third against geldings in a four-year-old maiden at Borris House for Mary Doyle. Now trained by Jonathan Sheppard for Buttonwood Farms, the bay rewarded connections with a comfortable five and a quarter length success under Gerard Galligan.

Keri Brion, assistant trainer to Sheppard, later explained the filly’s appeal and said, “I found her in Ireland and got her from James Doyle. She had just finished third against the boys in a point-to-point in Ireland, and the two that beat her were sold to Gordon Elliott for a lot of money. I think she's one for the future.”

A €30,000 store purchase by Baltimore Stables and Hamish Macauley, Zoom Zoom Zoe was bred by Danny Doran out of a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Polivalente. Leading Light’s first crop sold for up to €70,000 at the store sales and were purchased by the likes of MV Magnier, Colin Tizzard, AP McCoy, Colin Bowe, Jessica Harrington and Highflyer Bloodstock.

Zoom Zoom Zoe’s impressive win comes on a week which has proven fruitful for Leading Light in the past, with the son of Montjeu having captured the Group 1 Ascot Gold Cup and Group 3 Queen’s Vase at the Royal Meeting.