Coolmore, Westerberg and Merriebelle Stables' 2-year-old filly Statuette (Justify–Immortal Verse {Ire}, by Pivotal {GB}) was hammered into 11-10 favoritism for Saturday's Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden at Navan and justified that welter of support by powering clear of her rivals in the latter stages to attain TDN Rising Stardom on debut. The March-foaled chestnut was well away to track the leaders in a share of third through the early stages. Nudged along to close soon after passing the quarter-mile marker, she quickened smartly to lead with 150 yards remaining and engaged turbo from there to prevail by an impressive three lengths from Olivia Maralda (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), becoming the second winner for her freshman sire (by Scat Daddy).
“It was nice to start her off on some nice ground,” said Ryan Moore. “She's a lovely, big filly and was a standout physically. She did that really nicely. She's a Justify out of Immortal Verse, so she's got an incredible pedigree. I'd like to think, looking at the size of her, that she will continue to progress throughout the season. She's a filly that Aidan [O'Brien] liked and I'm very happy with what she's done.” Ballydoyle's Chris Armstrong added, “She has always shown loads at home and could be a filly for the [G3] Albany [S. at Royal Ascot]. She's a very big filly, we'll take her home and see how she comes out of it. She is by Justify, an incredibly exciting sire, she's his first winner in Europe and he had a very good winner in America last weekend. We have some nice Justifys.”
Statuette is the latest of five foals and fourth scorer produced by Immortal Verse (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), whose career highlights include victories in the G1 Coronation S. and G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois. Immortal Verse, who topped the 2013 Tattersalls December Mares sale when knocked down for 4,700,000gns, is the leading performer for Listed Prix La Camargo victrix and G3 Prix Fille de l'Air runner-up Side of Paradise (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), whose descendants include stakes-winning G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. runner-up Roseman (Ire) (Kingman {GB}). Side of Paradise is a full-sister to Listed Rose Bowl S. winner Flowerdrum (Ire) as well as being a half-sister to MG1SW sire Last Tycoon (Ire) (Try My Best), G3 Prix du Bois victrix The Perfect Life (Ire) (Try My Best) and dual G3 Goldene Peitsche-winning sire Astronef (Ire) (Be My Guest). Side of Paradise is also kin to the stakes-placed dam of G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Valentine Waltz (Ire) (Be My Guest) and G1 Matron S. victrix Sense of Style (Thunder Gulch). Black-type descendants of Statuette's third dam Mill Princess (Ire) (Mill Reef) also include top-level winners Hermosa (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Hydrangea (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), The United States (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Tie Black (Ire) (Machiavellian). Immortal Verse, whose leading performer is last year's G1 Cheveley Park S. victrix Tenebrism (Caravaggio), was bred to Justify last year.
1st-Navan, €16,000, Mdn, 5-28, 2yo, f, 5f 162yT, 1:11.55, gd.
STATUETTE, f, 2, by Justify
1st Dam: Immortal Verse (Ire) (Hwt. 3yo Filly-Eng at 7-.5f, G1SW-Eng & Fr, $1,053,873), by Pivotal (GB)
2nd Dam: Side of Paradise (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
3rd Dam: Mill Princess (Ire), by Mill Reef
1ST-TIME STARTER. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, €9,440. O-Westerberg, Coolmore & Merribelle Stables; B-Merriebelle Stables, Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (KY); T-Aidan O'Brien. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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