A Real 'Fancy' Dress

In the Coolmore Stud colours, Folk Dress (2 f Pierro - Gypsy Chimes, by Snow Ridge) made it back-to-back wins on the Matamata racecourse with another emphatic performance on 17 April in the $10,000 Matamata Glass & Joinery 2YO 1000 metres.

Having received a copybook ride
by Opie Bosson to win her previous start, jockey Craig Grylls emulated his role
in the saddle.

Able to slot in fifth without
being rushed early, Folk Dress tracked up rounding the home turn and it was all
over after she quickened to lead at the 300m.

“I was able to get a nice sit
just behind the pace and she really travelled,” Grylls said. “She's a really
professional filly, a racehorse that knows what she's doing and blinkers just
made her travel that much better today.

“She kicked away when I asked her
to and she did it easily. I've ridden her in a fair bit of work and she's a
relaxed sort of customer, but the blinkers just helped her keep a little more
focussed. She's a really good racehorse.”

On Dead4 footing, Folk Dress ran
the 1000 metres in 58.8, last 600m in 34.2, winning by one and a half lengths,
and paid $3.20 & $1.40 on the NZ TAB tote.

Folk Dress won her first trial
well enough for trainer Jamie Richards to pursue the Woburn Farm 2YO Classic
(Gr. 3, 1200m) on debut. Fighting hard for fourth, she then ran the fastest
last 600m (33.6) getting home for second in the Maiden 2YO 1200 metres on 28
February at Pukekohe, and now having won two of her four starts another stakes
assignment beckons.

Along with race rival and
stable-mate Louis Luck (Dissident), Folk Dress is now earmarked to contest the
$50,000 Waikato Equine Vet Centre 2YO Stakes (Listed, 1100m) on 4 May at Te
Rapa.

“Good draws (5) win races and it
was a lovely ride by Craig (Grylls),” Richards said. “She got the split at the
top of the straight and quickened up nicely.

“She didn't have a lot of luck on
debut when caught in a speed duel and we've been concentrating on getting her
back and finishing off and she's doing that well. Opie (Bosson) suggested
putting a set of blinkers on and I think we've seen an improved filly.

“And congratulations to Coolmore
for having a lovely exciting filly in the stable with us and hopefully we can
get some black type as a thank you for their support.

“Louis Luck is still learning
what the game is all about, but he's a progressive horse and if he can draw a
gate at Te Rapa then he's a big chance. Waikato Equine, we'd love to get a bit
of their money back for the boss (David Ellis) and we're looking forward to
that.”

Coolmore stallion Pierro
(Lonhro), Champion First & Second Season Sire, has already left an
Australian Derby and VRC Oaks winner. The quintessential racehorse, he only
ever ran in stakes races, winning 11 of his 14 starts. The unbeaten Triple
Crown winner as a two-year-old amassed $4.5 million and already had yearling
progeny reach $1.5m in the sales ring.

The filly carries a Mr.
Prospector cross, through Straight Strike on the dam side of Lonhro, and the
dam side of dam sire Snow Ridge (Tabasco Cat).

“Te Akau has always had a good
association with Coolmore Stud and we love training winners in their navy blue
colours,” said Te Akau principal David Ellis.

“We've trained two talented
fillies for them recently, Love Triangle and Paulownia, and it's a huge thrill
to have another classy filly.

“The Magnier family has done a
great job for racing all around the world. You're only got to look at their
stallion roster in the Hunter Valley to see that it's a farm that invests a lot
back into the industry. They buy at the yearling sales, cull heavily, and do
what all studs should be doing to improve their stock. They're culling and
buying new blood all the time.

“We're now looking forward to
these two horses contesting the race sponsored by Hamilton Vets, or as they're
now called, Waikato Equine, and we'd give anything to get some of their money.”

Folk Dress was strapped by Joe Kamaruddin.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

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