La Petite Coco eyes Yorkshire Oaks after Group 1 Curragh win
- Scott Allen
- 27 June 2022
Group One winner La Petite Coco will now be aimed at the Yorkshire Oaks after claiming a half a length win in the Alwasmiyah Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh.
Trainer Paddy Twomey has already lined up a clear path for the four-year-old daughter of Ruler Of The World, who was last in action when winning the Group 2 Blanford Stakes back in September - a rest of 287 days.
The filly won four times last season, a maiden and an auction race before gaining black-type status with victories in the Group Three Give Thanks Stakes and the Blandford Stakes.
The 9/1 shot, under Billy Lee, raced prominently in Sunday's win at the Curragh, holding off the challenge thrown down by William Haggas' 11/4 favourite My Astra.
LA PETITE COCO wins the G1 Polly Stakes 🥇
— Champions Series (@ChampionsSeries) June 26, 2022
Top showing from a very good filly @curraghrace 🇮🇪pic.twitter.com/NxEl9MAnOa
"To be honest I couldn't see her being beaten coming here," said Twomey.
"The level she showed last year to beat Love (in the Blandford) and the winner of this race (Thundering Nights), I didn't enter her in the Arc for fun. I think she's top class.
"We decided, Barry (Irwin, of owners Team Valor) and I, that we'd start her campaign in the middle of the year with a view to the second half. She didn't have a run but I don't think it matters to her.
"We planned to start it here. The Yorkshire Oaks is something we'll consider, the Fillies and Mares at Ascot, the Arc, the Breeders' Cup maybe and Hong Kong. That sort of line-up.
"We were keen to start at home, we didn't really want to travel for her first run. It's great and that's why we get up and try to do it. We're lucky that people like Barry have sent us some good horses."
