The two year-old race at Canterbury on Friday night always looked a good contest on paper with talented Pierro filly Paris Dior confirming stakes potential with a dominant win over blue-blood colt Current King.
Trained by Peter and Paul Snowden, Paris Dior was considered unlucky when missing by half a neck on debut behind $1.8million colt Man in the Mirror at Warwick Farm before Christmas.
She made amends for that defeat in no uncertain terms, powering forward from a wide gate to sit outside the leaders before crossing to stalk the front runner Current King, who held the lead for most of the race.
A half-brother by Snitzel to Golden Slipper winner She Will Reign and Silver Slipper Time to Reign, Current King did a good job on debut, but had no answer when James McDonald let loose on the filly.
Paris Dior shot clear over the final furlong to win the 1100m dash by three and a quarter lengths.
“She’s a beautiful filly, just a push button, ready made two year-old,” said an elated James McDonald.
Peter Snowden was expecting a good performance and was not disappointed.
“Her first run was good, but the good keep getting better and she’s done that tonight,” said Peter Snowden.
“When James pressed forward on her I thought he must have known he had something underneath him, because he normally would have come back and just sat behind, but I think she might be well above average.
“The $2million Inglis Millennium might be a good option for her in a few weeks time.”
Paris Dior was retained to race after passing in shy of her $300,000 reserve when offered by Marquee Stud at Inglis Easter last year and is the first foal from metro winning Exceed and Excel mare Entrancing, a half-sister to Group II placed Miss West Coast.
Entrancing is a grand-daughter of former brilliant stakes-winning sprinter Nanny Maroon, the dam of brilliant fast Group II winning mare De Lightning Ridge, so there are a few super-fast females in this family.
Marquee Stud will offer the full sister to Paris Dior at Inglis Classic as Lot 533.
Golden Slipper winning sire Pierro has had a winning run of late with Group I winner Regal Power and stakes-winners Parry Sound and Holbien with Paris Dior promising to add to the Black Type success in coming weeks.
