Dogwood blossoms as Group 1s await

Champion Jockey-elect Donnacha O’Brien is closing in on his first century of winners and won the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF (Fillies) Maiden at Gowran today on his father Aidan O'Brien's Pink Dogwood

The daughter of Camelot is a sister to this year's Joseph O'Brien trained Irish Derby winner Latrobe and today made it third time lucky when improved on two previous runner-efforts, to score an easy seven lengths win over Bodhicitta

Afterwards jockey O'Brien, partnering his 97th winner this term, 31 clear of nearest pursuer Colin Keane, stated “she had two good runs against two decent fillies and I thought she was very impressive today and I really like her. She was very straight forward, travelled around well and she picked up very nicely.

“I think she is probably going to be a mile and a half filly next year. She will probably start of over a mile and a quarter maybe in an Oaks Trial.

“It’s soft ground, maybe heavy in places, but it’s not bottomless.”

Winning trainer Aidan O’Brien wasn't present for Pink Dogwood's race but was on hand for Circus Maximus success in the next and then reported "Pink Dogwood could run again this season. She could be a Boussac (Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac on Arc day) filly or a Fillies Mile (Breeders Cup); she has been progressing with every run, and she’s a quality filly.”

Pink Dogwood is species of flowering plant native to eastern North America and northern Mexico.

Quotes from Alan Magee