Beaten into second place by White Moss in the Group II Sapphire Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on April 13, the 5yo Snitzel mare Irithea scored a well-deserved maiden stakes win in Saturday's Group III Hawkesbury Crown (1300m).
Stakes placed four times since August last year, Irithea led at every call under Josh Parr to defeat the favourite Multaja (Medaglia d'Oro) by a length with Manicure (Exceed And Excel) another two and three-quarter lengths back in third. (images Steve Hart).
It was an exciting few minutes for Derby Racing whose colours were carried to victory by Jagged Edge (Better Than Ready) in the Listed Dalrello Stakes at Eagle Farm.
Irithea advances her record to 7 wins, 6 seconds and 4 thirds from 23 starts with earnings of $528,890.
"It's not often you say a five-year-old keeps improving but I thought at the start of this preparation she was going better than ever," winning trainer Bjorn Baker said.
"She deserves a stakes win, she's been there or thereabouts at her last four or five starts, it was a super win.
"Josh rode her perfectly. It's great for Darby Racing and a great group of owners.
"We'll have a bit of a think and might go straight to Queensland and give her a few weeks between runs. I wouldn't rule out nominating her for a race like the Stradbroke and having a go."
Darby Racing
outlaid $90,000 secure Irithea from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2015 MM
National Yearling Sale.
She is the third winner from four to race out of the unraced French Deputy mare Kirovskaya who is a daughter of the Group III winning Sadler's Wells mare Kirov Premiere who came to Australia from Japan later in life.
In Australia she left the stakes-placed Redoute's Choice mare Savannah's Choice who is the dam of Spendthrift Farm's Group III Zeditave Stakes winner Overshare (I Am Invincible).
Kirov Premiere left a star in Japan in Cessario the Champion 3YO Filly in Japan in 2005 and now n elite broodmare producing the Japan Cup winner Epiphaneia, Group 1 Hopeful Stakes winner Saturnalia and Group 1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes winner Leontes.
Kirovskaya has a 2yo Smart Missile filly that made $50,000 at the 2018 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale and a Real Impact colt that was bought by Clarry Connors for $30,000 at this year's Magic Millions.
She has a weanling filly by Mikki Isle (JPN) and was covered by Scissor Kick last spring.
Irithea becomes the 90th stakes-winner for Snitzel who is cruising to his third consecutive Champion Sire Title.
