Regally-bred O’Brien filly likely to be tested at a higher level next.
After outperforming her competitors at Ascot on Friday, Aidan O'Brien will move up in grade before the season ends.
Perfectly bred as Dubawi's daughter from the seven-time Group One champion On her Curragh debut, Minding came in third behind the thrilling Red Letter before being caught late by the equally promising Falling Snow at the same track last month.
Ballet Slippers was a prohibitively expensive 1-4 favorite for the Wesco Anixter EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes based solely on that form, and under Ryan Moore, she duly took the lead.
Early in the home straight, Kylie of Lochalsh appeared to be a threat for a short while, but her challenge was quickly quelled. With the rail providing support, the market leader pushed ahead to defeat Music Piece's encouraging performance by a considerable margin.
Sparkling pedigree!
Ballet Slippers, who is a daughter of Dubawi and Magical, gets off the mark on the third attempt at @Ascot for Ryan Moore and Aidan O'Brien… pic.twitter.com/b6oj41UbDn
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) September 6, 2024
On October 11, Paddy Power lowered Ballet Slippers from 10-1 to 8-1 for the Fillies' Mile at Newmarket, then he offered 20-1 for the 1000 Guineas and the Oaks the following season.
"We're delighted with her and think she's going to be a lovely middle-distance filly for next year," stated O'Brien, who was not present at Ascot.
She's a wonderful kind horse who is honest and straightforward, so I'm happy that she won and carried herself beautifully on the ground.
"We might have a look at a Listed or Group race next and see where we are, but we're thinking she's a middle-distance filly for next year."
James Doyle had a double on the card, first helping Ralph Beckett's Calla Lagoon (9-2) win the Charbonnel Et Walker British EBF Maiden Stakes and then winning the Juddmonte British EBF Restricted Novice Stakes atop Diego Ventura for Wathnan Racing, his primary employment.
The latter had been signed by his Qatari owners after making a strong debut for Gavin Cromwell at Naas in July, and he was making his stable debut for Hamad Al Jehani.
Diego Ventura, a 6-5 favorite to follow up on his British bow, was given his challenge by Doyle in the last furlong and prevailed by a head in a drawn-out battle with Spirit Of Farhh.
"He didn't begin all that good and with green horses around me going every which way we got spat out the back, so we had to go to plan B and try to teach him," the jockey stated to Sky Sports Racing.
Being drawn where we were was a disadvantage, so I had intended for us to go as close to this rail as possible; I simply didn't anticipate that we would be almost the last ones trying to do so!
In just his second start, he showed the drive to triumph when it mattered most. It's all positive since he was giving the second horse chunks of his weight."
To guarantee that Serena Brotherton won the LK Bennett Lady Amateur Jockeys Handicap, Terries Royale found his second wind.
Mick Appleby's charge was attempting to give her 53-year-old rider a ladies' race double after she won the Queen's Mother's Cup for the fourth time at York in May. The winning jockey usually receives their weight in champagne.
Terries Royale (6-1) were destined for minor honors after Shaladar, the 7-2 favorite ridden by Becky Smith, challenged and past them, but they came back in the end to win by a neck.
"It was a gutsy effort (to come back), but it was my fault," Brotherton stated. "He took me into the race, and when he got there, he was a little unsure of what to do.
"He had something to focus on when Becky arrived, so he ran and showed a lot of bravery. He has loved the ground and seen it through to the end.
This feeling is unaffordable. Any winner, no matter where is special, but an Ascot victory is perhaps much more so, especially in light of York this year. Two great winners in a single season are rare, so the occasion is truly magical."
