In the current era, when champion thoroughbreds are raced as few times as is necessary to hoist them into multi-million pound earning status at stud, Peeping Fawn is a star who has brought a welcome breath of fresh air into a hard-nosed business. Here is a filly who can win on any going, win over various distances, and turn out as many times as her trainer wishes.
For her, there is no need to walk the course, no need to post "run only if ground is suitable" notices, no need to plot complex tactics with pacemakers to aid her cause.
She is a real 21st century superstar, but also an old- fashioned, tough, uncomplicated filly who simply likes to get out there and do battle. The fact that she has run nine times already this season will have some breeding business folk shaking their heads in despairbut, in the process, she has won three Group 1 races and is still improving. Happily, her connections intend to let her carry on running and, no doubt, winning. They are also indicating that she will continue to race as a four-year-old.
Peeping Fawn's victory in a hotly contested Nassau Stakes at Goodwood was further confirmation that she has come a long way since finishing third in a fillies maiden at Navan on April 1. That date is probably appropriate because she has made a fool of many a punter since.
The Aidan O'Brien-trained star gave an electrifying performance when she accelerated away from some of the best of her sex to be found in Europe, adding this prestigi-ous prize to the Irish Oaks and Pretty Polly Stakes already captured. She was beaten into second place in the Epsom Oaks but has twice reversed that form with the winner, Light Shift.
It was a first win in the Nassau for O'Brien and jockey Johnny Murtagh, and the second Group One in seven days following Dylan Thomas' easy King George and Queen Elizabeth Stakes win.
O'Brien said: "She is a very special filly and has come on again from the Irish Oaks. It is very strange to see a horse like her - you can see by looking at her that she is getting bigger and stronger. She is progressing so much that it is unbelievable, and everything is open to her. We always have a meeting a week after the race to discuss plans, but the sky could be the limit. It's a very big possibility we could keep her in training next year."
The Yorkshire Oaks in two weeks was mentioned as a possibility, with Blue Square and VC Bet giving her a 10-1 quote for the Arc, while totesport are just 8s.
Murtagh added: "I was looking through the roll of honour coming here and some great fillies have won. There was a bit of pressure on, but she is among the top ones now."
Runner-up Mandesha's trainer, Alain de Royer-Dupre, was proud in defeat and said: "She came over here really well and had just come to herself. Christophe Soumillon was not hard on her when she quickened, she quickened up herself. She's an autumn filly and the plan was always to go for the Arc. She might have a prep race but where, we have not decided."
Connections of Light Shift, who ran well to be third,have not yet decided where she will be aimed next. It is planned to send the Henry Cecil-trained fillyto the US later in the year but no immediate straegy has been devised, although she may tackle the Darley Yorkshire Oaks. Explaining the situation, Alan Cooper, racing managerfor the Niarchos Family, owners of Light Shift, said: "We'll take our time now before confirming her next plan but the Breeders' Cup race for fillies and mares is her real end-of-season objective."
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