Dubai: Pearls continued Godolphin’s run of success in Australia when landing the Group 2 Coolmore Tea Rose Stakes at Royal Randwick, on Saturday.
Trained by John O’Shea, the three-year-old Exceed And Excel filly, came with a strong run under Sam Clipperton in the straight to lead just inside the final furlong and score by a neck from Honesta.
A length and three quarters back was Kimberley Star.
“We hoped Pearls would run like that today. I was not perturbed by the ground and most importantly she is a quality filly,” O’Shea told the Godolphin website.
“She had a good preparation and was in wonderful order. She was very excitable as a young filly and physically not there so we had to be patient with her.
“When she told us she was ready, we took her to the races.
“She had a lovely spot in the run today, got to the lead a bit quicker than we wanted but dug deep to hang onto her advantage. A great performance.
“The Flight Stakes (Group One, 1m, October 3, Royal Randwick) would be the natural progression as she should run a strong mile.
“We will take her home and hope she comes out of this race well.
“Ottoman just doesn’t run past 1,200 metres so her future races will be restricted to the shorter trips.”
Winning jockey Clipperton added: “These royal blue silks have been very good to me.
“John O’Shea and the team had a lot of faith in Pearls’ ability - she is very well bred and is the ultimate professional.
“She has really come of age and is a lovely mature type - a very good filly.
“I had a lovely run - they rolled along in a nice tempo and I pressed the button on her too early as she was in front a long way out but, to my filly’s credit, she did the job well.”
Meanwhile, Magic Hurricane finished a game second in the Group 2 Ascend Sales Trophies Hill Stakes with stable companion Complacent taking third.
O’Shea commented: “Magic Hurricane ran great but three weeks between runs probably had him travelling a bit too keenly early and I felt that negated his finish.
“This was a really good trial for the Metropolitan (Group 1, October 3) where he will drop 7kgs, so he should have a nice chance then.
“I thought Complacent was the run of the race. He was entitled to finish last after leading most of the way and held on for third.”
