First Group 1 for La Petite Coco and trainer Paddy Twomey
LA PETITE COCO stepped up to her first Group 1 success in the Pretty Polly Stakes (G1) at The Curragh, the Ruler Of The World filly building on previous Group 3 and Group 2 victories on her seasonal debut.
It was also a first top level victory for her trainer Paddy Twomey. He has some big targets lined up as possible options for the filly, a third top-rated three-year-old filly in Ireland in 2021, later in the year.
“I was very happy with her coming here, she is a good filly and she beat Love last year,” said Twomey to Racing TV. “We bought her last year and she has run six times now and won five of them, she’s tough. She ran at Killarney and won, she went to Naas Oaks Trial on good ground and got beat, she went back to a winners’ race at Killarney and won that and then she won her Group 3 and then her Group 2. She’s doing it herself.
He added: “That was the plan to start her mid-season, I gave her an Arc entry and I did not think it was outrageous giving it to her, and I’d say Yorkshire Oaks, an Arc, a Vermeille, the Fillies and Mares at Ascot, 1m4f will be no problem for her. The Breeders’ Cup might suit her and I’d say a 1m4f will be her optimum.”
It had looked like a fabulous day for Twomey – he also trains the four-year-old Rosscarbery, who was the third horse past the post. However, the filly by Sea The Stars was subsequently disqualified after a weight discrepancy at scales when her jockey Wayne Lordan weighed in post race.
Twomey later reported that he and his owner Robert Moran are likely to lodge an appeal.
La Petite Coco: a champion’s pedigree
The four-year-old filly is out of the Konigstiger mare La Petite Virginia, a full-sister to Lavirco, a champion three-year-old in Germany in 1996 and second top-rated two-year-old in 1995. He won the Europa Preis (G1) and the Deutsches Derby (G1).
La Petite Virgina is also a full-sister to Laveron, a multiple Group 2 and 3 winner and Deutsches Derby third placed.
Third dam La Dorada was a champion juvenile in Germany in 1976 and was the dam of the champions La Colorada and Lomitas, and of La Fe;icita the dam of Lady Marian, a champion three-year-old of 2008.
Sire Ruler Of The World now based in Italy
The Group 1 Epsom Derby winner and half-brother to Duke Of Marmalade started his stallion career at Coolmore in 2015 at a fee of €15,000, and enjoyed first-crop success with the four-time Group and Grade 1-winning filly Iridessa.
However, support had not been high for the sire and the son of Galileo was moved to stand in France at Haras de Bouquetot for 2020 and 2021 at €6,000 and then €5,000. He has moved to Allevamenti della Berardenga in Italy for this season and stands at a fee of €5,000.
Iridessa was out of Senta’s Dream, a daughter of Danehill, while Le Petite Coco’s dam sire Konigstiger is a grandson of Danehill