G1 Next for Pierro Filly
The $250,000 Group III Kembla Grange Classic (1600m) attracted a big field of up and coming stakes fillies with higher aspirations and victory went to Queen of Dragons (3f Pierro x Entrancing, by Exceed and Excel) in the Trilogy Racing colours.
Stakes-placed last spring at Flemington, the Peter and Paul Snowden trained Queen of Dragons was second up from a spell and enjoyed the step out to 1600m to score a strong length victory for Tyler Schiller over the locally South Coast trained filly Our Gold Hope with both fillies well on track for further success during the autumn.
A $330,000 Inglis Classic purchase from Marquee Stud for Trilogy Racing / CB Bloodstock, Queen of Dragons is a full sister to Group II ATC Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m) winner Paris Dior, who was also trained by the Snowden’s, but her younger sister is leaning more towards the longer races.
"It’s a great result for Trilogy as they are big supporters of ours and also many other trainers. We've always had a good opinion of this filly and we do believe she will get out over further,'' Peter Snowden said.
"She did run second over 1800m at Flemington last year, so she did a really good job to come back slightly in trip to win this race.
"I'm not sure about the (ATC Australian) Oaks at 2400m, but we will definitely give her the chance at 2000m next in the Vinery stud Stakes (G1).
"If she measures up in the Vinery then we will look at the Oaks.''
The 36th stakes-winner for Golden Slipper winning sire Pierro, Queen of Dragons has the overall record of two wins and two seconds from 11 starts with prizemoney just shy of $260,000.
Bred by Steve Wilde and Bill Hilton, Queen of Dragons is the second stakes-winner from Entrancing, a five time metro winning Exceed and Excel mare, whose granddam is slick stakes-winner Nanny Maroon with the family also producing Group II winner De Lightning Ridge.
Entrancing produced a colt last spring by Pierro and was covered by him again.
Pierro has an outstanding crop of yearlings with 10 entries for Inglis Easter highlighted by the first foal of world champion Winx, a filly that will be offered in the Coolmore draft as Lot 391.