Gutsy Filly Provides The Gurkha With First Crop Winner

The Aidan O’Brien-trained Finest (2f The Gurkha - Pearl Grey, by Gone West) overcame a wide draw to land the Fillies Maiden at Limerick on Friday.

Racing over six and a half furlongs, she soon led under Wayne Lordan and was pushed along approaching the final furlong. Driven out, she dug deep to hold off the favourite Amber Kite by a nose on the line.

Speaking after the race, Lordan said, “She's done that well from an outside draw. She tried and battled well.”

Owned by Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier and Michael Tabor, Finest cost connections €250,000 as a yearling at Arqana. Bred by Lynch Bages, she hails from the first crop of top-class miler The Gurkha. He himself was unraced at two, but accounted for lost time with a nine length maiden win, followed by an impressive success in the Group 1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains and a thrilling victory in the Group 1 Sussex Stakes.

Finest continues a successful month for The Gurkha, following a six-figure sale at the Arqana Breeze-Up Sale. His sole offering in the catalogue, a colt out of Stakes performer Long Face, was consigned by Glending Stables as Lot 276 and was knocked down to Stephen Hillen for £260,000.