Improving Australia Filly Gains Group 3 Glory

Saturday saw the progressive Epona Plays (3f Australia - New Plays, by Oratorio) gain her first Stakes success when taking the Group 3 Lavarack & Lanwades Stud Fillies Stakes at Gowran Park.

A maiden winner at the track in July, the Willie McCreery-trained bay went on to finish fourth and third at Listed and Group 3 level respectively. Regular rider Billy Lee settled her behind the leaders, pushing her along in the straight and switched right challenge approaching two furlongs out. Making good headway, Epona Plays kept on well to lead inside the final furlong and denied Etneya by a neck on the line, with the front two drawing five lengths clear of the field.

Speaking after the race, a delighted Willie McCreery said, “She’s progressing well and they went a proper gallop. Billy said she was just behind the bit, lovely all the way, and when he asked her she was always going to respond. He said she did it snugly in the end. She's a lovely scopey filly and goes on any ground.”

Owned and bred by Renzo Forni, Epona Plays is a half-sister to connections’ Group 3 Athasi Stakes winner Dolce Strega (Zoffany) and Stakes performer Bumbasina.