Limiti Di Greccio (right) beats Tranquil Lady (left) and Sunset Shiraz © Photo Healy Racing
Limiti Di Greccio (15/8 fav) confirmed herself to be a high-class filly in the making when producing a remarkable performance in the listed Staffordstown Stud Stakes.
Waited with in mid-division, the daughter of Elzaam couldn’t get a clear run from three furlongs out as Billy Lee explored various options for racing room.
It looked like she would go down as an unlucky loser but, once finally getting into the clear after being switched left passing the furlong marker, the Martin Schwartz-owned filly picked up well to reel in the duelling pair Tranquil Lady and Sunset Shiraz
Eased in the final strides, the winner scored by a length and a quarter from Tranquil Lady, with the maiden Sunset Shiraz, placed at Stakes level for the fourth time in a row, a short head further back in third.
Winning trainer Paddy Twomey said: "I was concerned when they turned in and she seemed to meet every bit of trouble she could.
“I was confident if she could get any bit of light we'd run well anyway and she exceeded my expectations.
“Her owner wanted to go to France for the Group 1 and the Breeders' Cup but I managed to talk him out of it.
“We won this last year and I wanted to come here. I think it's a perfect stepping stone for the Guineas.
“She's come to me, won her maiden and finished second in the Ingabelle Stakes with trouble in running.
“I thought the extra furlong would suit her today and the slower ground didn't seem to inconvenience her. The plan would be to go for the Guineas.
“The owner would very much like to go for the Breeders Cup but the trainer is trying to put the brakes on.”
Quotes from Gary Carson