For the second year in succession, the Group 1 Audi Pretty Polly Stakes, at The Curragh, went for export, with John Gosden's Dar Re Mi defeating the Kevin Prendergast trained Beach Bunny to winning a short head.
Dar Re Mi made virtually all under Jimmy Fortune, and although joined inside the final furlong, hung on for a narrow win. The first two finishers came close together inside the final furlong and, although a Stewards' Enquiry was subsequently called, an alteration to the placings always seemed unlikely.
Gosden himself was absent but winning owner Lord Lloyd-Webber's wife Madeline stated “we bred Dar Re Mi ourselves but her dam, Darara, is now retired so Dar Re Mi is the future!”
She added “she deserved to win this as she had finished second in two Group 1s already and is a brave filly. She was fit and well coming here and this win gains her automatic qualification for the Breeders' Cup Mares' race.”
Winning travelling head lad Les Reynolds also hinted at a possible return to a mile and a half for Dar Re Mi. Look Here (11/8 favourite) finished third and her trainer Ralph Beckett mentioned “the ground possibly blunted her speed.”
Dar Re Mi's win was following on from the win of Sir Michael Stoute's Promising Lead last year while six of the last ten renewals of the race have now gone to England.
Thomas Weekes.
