NEWS
Dar Re Mi prevails in Petty Polly
Posted: Saturday, June 27, 2009 4:35 PM
by Myra Lewyn
Dar Re Mi led nearly every step of the way in the Audi Pretty Polly Stakes (Ire-G1) on Saturday at the Curragh, but the victory was not easy as she had to battle Beach Bunny to the finish to narrowly prevail.
Dar Re Mi, who drifted slightly right nearing the finish on the yielding turf course, won after a lengthy stewards’ inquiry into interference with Beach Bunny as the result was allowed to stand.
Beach Bunny, a multiple group stakes-placed stakes winner, chased Dar Re Mi and Katiyra from third before jockey Christopher Hayes rallied her into contention with about two furlongs remaining. As Katiyra flattened out and faded, Beach Bunny bid strongly in the final furlong and steadily reeled in Dar Re Mi but could not get past the winner in a thrilling finish.
Dar Re Mi, who ran out of energy and just missed winning her season debut in Totepool Middleton Stakes (Eng-G3) at York on May 14, found a little extra under Jimmy Fortune on Saturday and scored by a nose while completing 1½ miles in 2:14.04 on the yielding ground.
Look Here, winner of the 2008 Juddmonte Epsom Oaks (Eng-G1), was sent off as the 11-to-8 favorite and finished a length back in third. Multiple Group 1 winner Lush Lashes was fourth.
Dar Re Mi, a four-year-old Singspiel (Ire) filly, earned her first win at the highest level after racing competitively against some of Europe’s best fillies last season. She finished in top three in all eight of her 2008 starts, including runner-up finishes in Group 1 races in England and France.
Dar Re Mi won the 2008 Prix Minerve-Shadwell (Fr-G3) among three victories during the season for trainer John Gosden. She finished second to Lush Lashes in the Darley Yorkshire Oaks (Eng-G1) and to eventual European Horse of the Year Zarkava in the Qatar Prix Vermeille (Fr-G1).
With her win in the Pretty Polly, Dar Re Mi earned a starting berth in the $2-million Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1) on November 6 at the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita Park via the Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” series.
“I would love to go to the Breeders’ Cup,” Madeleine Lloyd Webber, owner-breeder of Dar Re Mi with her husband, music impresario Andrew Lloyd Webber, told England’s Press Association. “Why not go globetrotting?”
Dar Re Mi improved to four wins, four seconds, and three thirds in 11 career starts. She is out of the French Group 1 winner Darara (Ire), by Top Ville, and is a half sister to Hong Kong champion River Dancer (formerly Diaghilev) and represents the immediate family of French champion, classic winner, and leading sire Darshaan.
Myra Lewyn is a Thoroughbred Time TODAY editor
