The David Hayes-led Lindsay Park stable have opted to run resuming filly Tulip at The Valley this weekend scratching the Golden Rose 2017 hope from the San Domenico Stakes field in Sydney.
Tulip will resume in the Johnnie Walker Plate at The Valley on Saturday. Photo: Steve Hart
Tulip along with stablemate Madeenaty were both dual acceptors for the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill as well as the $120,000 Johnnie Walker Plate (1200m) – a set weights plus penalties race for three-year-old fillies – at the Valley in Melbourne.
Gold Coast Magic Millions Classic placegetter Madeenaty will represent the team in Sydney’s Group 3 race second-up following her second over 1000m at Flemington on August 5 with Corey Brown to ride.
Tulip has now officially been scratched from the San Domenico Stakes field, which is headlined by the Peter & Paul Snowden-trained Pariah, and is a confirmed Moonee Valley runner in Race 3 with Craig Williams to ride.
The beautifully-bred daughter of 2012 Golden Slipper winner Pierro makes her three-year-old debut and is in Victoria for the first time since running a brave fourth to stablemate Catchy in Caulfield’s Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) in late February.
Tulip had three subsequent runs during the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival including her Group 2 Magic Night Stakes (1200m) success at Rosehill.
An eye-catching third behind She Will Reign (1st) and Frolic (2nd) followed in the lucrative Group 1 $3.5 million Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) before her fifth to Invader at Randwick in the Group 1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) over the extra metres on April 1.
The filly has been brought on fitness wise with a Cranbourne trial on August 8 over 1000m where she finished a nostril flare off formality in the 1000m heat.
Originally pegged for the Group 3 Quezette Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield last Saturday, won in an upset by Crown Witness over Catchy, Tulip was saved for this weekend’s reunion with Williams.
The champion hoop rides her for the first time since the devastatingly close second behind Limestone on January 26 in the Group 3 Blue Diamond Fillies Preview (1000m) and is happy to be back aboard.
“I think she’s quite special,” Williams told Racing Victoria.
“I think she’s right up there with the best three-year-old fillies we have. She was definitely up there with the best two-year-old fillies we had.
“I did trial her before I went overseas and I was really happy with the feel that she gave me and she’s won at the Valley too.”
Tulip holds early entries for a host of major Group 1 spring races including the $1 million Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on September 23.
Hayes is yet to prepare a Golden Rose Stakes winner and currently Tulip is paying $17 in futures Golden Rose betting.
She is the firming $2.70 favourite in the Moonee Valley racing odds for her assignment on Saturday, followed in the markets by the consistent Darren Weir-trained Limestone ($2.70) who has the previous winning form over Tulip and exciting Sepoy filly Garrard ($4.20).
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