Brilliant Galileo filly Alice Springs won the G1 Matron Stakes at Leopardstown in fabulous style on Saturday for her second G1 win of the year.
Alice Springs (Galileo x Aleagueoftheirown, by Danehill Dancer) won Newmarket’s G1 Falmouth Stakes in July and may now head to the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot and then the Breeders’ Cup Mile.
Alice Springs is from the stakes placed Danehill Dancer mare Aleagueoftheirown, dam of other Galileo winners Criteria, Kingston Jamaica and Crocodile Rock.Offered at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale in 2014, Alice Springs was bought by MV Magnier for 550,000gns.
Her yearling sister will be offered at this year's Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.Her G2 and G3-winning third dam Optimistic Lass produced the G1 Coronation Stakes winner Golden Opinion (Slew o’ Gold).
Among her descendants are the French 1000 Guineas-placed Rahiyah, G2 winner Shaweel and G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Samitar.Alice Springs has a yearling full-sister and foal brother to follow.
• FRENCH Derby winner Almanzor (Wootton Bassett - Darkova by Maria’s Mon) took out a vintage renewal of the G1 Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday.The Jean-Claude Rouget-trained 3YO colt provided his sire Wootton Bassett, a son of Iffraaj, with his first G1`winner when he took out the Prix du Jockey Club in June.
Wootton Bassett is out of the winning Primo Dominie mare Balladonia, who has produced another eight winners and stands at Haras d'Etreham.The stud bred Almanzor, the first foal of the unraced Maria's Mon mare Darkova, a daughter of the Listed-winning Halling mare Darkara.
Rouget purchased Almanzor at the 2014 Arqana August Sale for €100,000.The trainer also spent €110,000 to secure Almanzor's younger sister from the 2015 Arqana V2 Sale.
Darkova also has a yearling colt by Falco and produced a brother to Almanzor this year.• AWTAAD, the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas winner by Cape Cross, returned to winning form in the G2 Boomerang Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday after a failure in the G1 Sussex Stakes.
• MYBOYCHARLIE gelding Landfall made it two wins from two starts when taking out the G3 Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday, providing his shuttle sire with his 12th stakes winner.