Galileo filly Free Wind shows top-level potential in Park Hill romp

Just over half an hour after Inspiral sauntered her way to May Hill Stakes success, the Doncaster crowd was treated to another filly demolition job when Free Wind powered to victory in the Park Hill Fillies' Stakes.

The George Strawbridge-owned three-year-old was fourth on her only start at two in a Wolverhampton maiden in December, but has risen quickly up the grades.

A nine-length win at Goodwood was followed by a win in a Doncaster novice contest, while she went down narrowly when second to Golden Pass in the Listed Aphrodite Fillies' Stakes at Newmarket last month. She then added a maiden Group win when staying on to land the Group 3 Prix Minerve in Deauville.

In winning the Park Hill by seven lengths from Golden Pass, the daughter of Galileo will now likely head to a top-level contest. She is not entered for the Arc, but for which, such was the manner of her victory on Thursday, many would imagine her heading that way.

Free Wind was bred by Sue Ann Foley and went the way of Blandford Bloodstock when selling for 325,000gns from Islanmore Stud at Tattersalls Book 1.

She is the second foal out of the Listed-winning Duke Of Marmalade mare Alive Alive Oh, a half-sister to dual Japanese Grade 3 scorer Crescendo Love, who is in turn out of a daughter of a half-sister to the dam of 1,000 Guineas heroine Virginia Waters.

There was further reason for optimism for Coolmore connections on Thursday as the smart Ancient Rome stepped up on his two previous wins with a ready success in the Group 3 Prix des Chenes at Longchamp.

Sporting the colours of Michael Tabor and trained by Andre Fabre, the colt came home to deny the Wootton Bassett-sired Scherzo by two lengths for his third straight win.

A 99th stakes winner for Claiborne Farm stalwart War Front, Ancient Rome was bred by Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt and is the seventh foal out of Gagnoa, a daughter of Sadler's Wells who won a brace of Group 3s before placed efforts in the Prix Saint-Alary, Prix de Diane and Irish Oaks for Fabre.

The Quay Bloodstock-bred Gagnoa unsurprisingly holds an illustrious pedigree too, being closed related to 2011 Derby hero Pour Moi, the stakes-winning Kissed and last year's Irish Derby third Dawn Patrol.

Ancient Rome is the third black-type performer for the 13-year-old, who has also produced a full-sister in Fillies' Sprint Stakes scorer Etoile and the Dansili filly Galateia, who was third in a French Listed contest.

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