La Collina is G1 winner for Strategic Prince

La Collina (2f Strategic Prince-Starfish, by Galileo) gave Strategic Prince a first-crop G1 success when coming with a well-timed run to win the G1 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday. Kevin Prendergast’s charge won a maiden at Limerick on her debut before losing out by a neck to Maybe (2f Galileo-Sumora, by Danehill) on her only other outing at Leopardstown in the G3 Silver Flash Stakes. Prendergast is keen to take on Maybe again in the G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes after this latest victory. “Maybe is now favourite for the Guineas and Oaks but we’ll take her on in the Moyglare and see if we can reverse the Leopardstown run,” said Prendergast. “I think I’ve won the Moyglare three or four times and that’s my fifth win in the Phoenix.” Jockey Declan McDonagh added: “She was unlucky on her previous start at Leopardstown when there wasn’t much pace on but today suited her down to the ground. They went hard and there was a bit of traffic at halfway. I just got out and was lucky with the clear run I got. I never got stopped. I just had to switch a couple of times. “I got outpaced early and let her find her feet but she’s all heart. When you see the way she stands there after the race, she has it all in abundance. She's a very good two-year-old and that was a true test against the colts. She was all heart in the final furlong and hit the line well.” La Collina was bred by the Barry family’s Manister House Stud in County Limerick and was sold for what now looks a bargain £42,000 at the Doncaster Premier Yearling Sale.