Australia’s reigning Champion First Season sire Justify (USA) posted a new stakes-winner in Ireland overnight when blue-blood three year-old filly Unless took out the Listed Michael John Kennedy Memorial Irish EBF Stakes (1m2f).
Trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Gary Carroll, Unless improved off a last start second in a Listed race relishing the step up in trip from a mile at her first try at a staying distance.
She powered to the line to win by a length and three-quarters over race favourite Azazat, an Aga Khan homebred filly by Camelot. Unless has now won two races and placed six times from 10 starts and holds entries for several upcoming Group races.
“Unless always looked like she would appreciate stepping up to that trip and she could even get further. The Yorkshire Oaks (G1 on August 24) is a possibility,” said Aidan O’Brien.
A homebred for the Coolmore partners, Unless is the first winner for blueblood Galileo mare Clemmie, the Champion European 2YO Filyl of 2017 and a full sister to Champion 3YO Miler and successful sire Churchill.
She is the 16th stakes-winner for Justify and is his second stakes-winner from a daughter of Galileo joining boom two year-old colt City of Troy.
Justify returns to Coolmore Australia this spring at a fee of $77,000.
