Ardrossan’s daughter shines in Sydney

Ardrossan’s daughter De Armas ran a fine second in the Gr.1 Flight Stakes over 1600m. It was a small but high-quality field, and the race shaped as a contest between three accomplished fillies.

Post-race, jockey Zac Lloyd commented: “She is a beautiful filly. She brought in different form lines today. She was a bit relentless trying to hang in the whole way. Maybe cost her hanging into the inferior going. Gone very well.”

De Armas was one of last season’s better two-year-olds, and she looks to have improved at three. She raced along the rail into the straight and was sharing the lead at the 200m. She then edged ahead at the 100m and fought on bravely to the line. She is a genuine, serious filly, and it won’t take much more improvement for her to land a major win this campaign.

She has already been a terrific advertisement for her sire’s value. Central Districts trainer Johnno Benner bought her for just $16,000 through NZB’s online Gavelhouse National Yearling Sale. She won both of her first two starts, including the Counties Challenge Stakes (Listed, 1100m) last December. She then ran a solid fourth in the Karaka Millions 2YO (RL, 1200m) before being sold to Australian interests, OTI Racing. Saturday’s Group 1 placing, worth $141,000, came at only her fifth start.

De Armas comes from a female family established and maintained by Blandford Lodge Stud, and we congratulate them, along with her connections, on a terrific run.