Godolphin’s striking Epaulette filly Troach and OTI Racings Lady Laguna staged a two-horse war in Saturday’s Listed Musk Creek Farm Atlantic Jewel stakes (1200m). The former emerged as the winner in a battle of the fittest.
It was the first stakes success for Troach, who was coming off a third behind Zoukerino and Spacewalk in the Listed The Rosebud at Rosehill. At her previous start, Troach defeated Opal Ridge, and that daughter of Rubick franked the form by winning the opener at Randwick on Saturday.
With Craig Williams in the saddle for James Cummings, Troach defeated the confidently supported Overshare filly Lady Laguna by a length, with the Capitalist filly a half-length back in third after being held up at a vital point in the straight.
Godolphin foreman Sean Keogh said the daughter of Epaulette had the form on the board.
“It looked like it was a strong form (The Rosebud), and it was good to see her back it up again today,” Keogh said.
“She’s a lovely, lovely style of filly. She’s got plenty of scope, but she’s got plenty of pace too. So, we’re delighted to be able to take out a Black Type, Listed race like this, and the team will consider things like that (Thousand Guineas).
Craig Williams agreed that Troach was a standout in the paddock.
“When you look at her in the yard, she’s a beautiful filly, she’s got good scope. You’ve seen what she’s done in Sydney, so it was a great move by James to find this race for her today,” Williams said.
With her first stakes success, Troach advances her record to three wins and a third from eight starts with earnings of $267,700.
A Godolphin homebred Troach is the third winner from as many to race out of the General Nediym mare Anise whose seven wins included the Group III ATC Kindergarten Stakes.
Purchased by Darley for $600,000 at the 2010 Easter Yearling Sale, Anise is a daughter of the Flying Spur mare Pimpinella.
A two-time winner in Sydney, Pimpinella is a three-quarter sister to the dual Hong Kong Horse Of The Year, Fairy King Prawn (Danehill), and the 3-time Listed stakes winner Crevette (Danehill), and a half-sister to the Group 1 VRC Salinger Stakes winner Easy Rocking (Barathea).
Crevette is the dam of dual Group 1 winner Cosmic Endeavour (Northern Meteor).
Pimpinella is a daughter of 1990 Group II VRC Edward Manifold Stakes-winner Twiglet (Twig Moss), honoured as the 2001 Australian Broodmare Of The Year.
Anise has a yearling filly by Blue Point and was not covered last year.
Troach is the 18th stakes-winner for former Darley stallion Epaulette, who now stands in Turkey.
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