Fresh from siring the trifecta in a quality juvenile colts maiden at Randwick on Wednesday, Coolmore shuttler Justify (USA) featured overnight with an eye-catching new stakes-winner when flashy filly Greenfinch scored a cavalier win in the Listed Cairn Rouge Stakes (1m) at Killarney.
Trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Wayne Lordan, Greenfinch has been competitive in Group and Listed races at her first three runs this year and appreciated dropping back in trip to a mile to lead and kick clear to win by more than two lengths.
“Wayne gave her a lovely ride, she jumped, got a lovely position and he was able to dictate from the front,” Ballydoyle representative Chris Armstrong said.
“Wayne said she was really enjoying it out in front and it’s good for her confidence to get a nice win like that under her belt, and hopefully she can step up in grade again.”
A homebred for the Coolmore partners, Greenfinch is a half-sister to multiple Group I winners Roly Poly and US Navy Flag, plus Group III winner Cover Song being the fourth stakes-winner among six winners from four time Group I winning Galileo mare Misty for Me.
With two wins and two placings from seven starts, Greenfinch is the 33rd stakes-winner worldwide for Justify, who is not returning to Australia this spring but will have a great crop of foals here having covered 188 mares at a fee of $77,000 in 2023.
