Who's Steph bags another 1,000 Guineas trial with Derrinstown success

Who's Steph continued her journey towards contesting her first Classic later this month when she took out the Group 3 Derrinstown Stud 1,000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown on Sunday.

This was a second success in a Group 3 for the daughter of Zoffany after she had won the Ballylinch Stud 1,000 Guineas Trial Stakes last month, a performance that led to prominent owner-breeder George Strawbridge securing the filly privately.

Patrick Headon bred Who's Steph out of the placed Verglas mare Llew Law, a mare Headon purchased from the 2012 Goffs November Mares Sale for just €5,000. Since retiring to the paddocks Llew Law has also produced the dual winner Thunder Crash.

Llew Law is a half-sister to Windsor Castle Stake scorer Hototo and the pair are out of the Listed-placed Dr Devious mare Harlem Dancer.

Who's Steph went through the ring on two occasions prior to hitting the racetrack, selling to Whitehall Stud for €20,000 at the Goffs November Foal Sale before her trainer, Ger Lyons, bought her for €40,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale.

The filly is one of nine Group winners for her sire Zoffany, who is responsible for the Group 1-winning Ventura Storm and several Group 2 performers including Foundation and Illuminate.

Who's Steph is from the final crop of Zoffanys bred at a fee of €7,500, so with his more expensively bred crop of two-year-olds due to start hitting the track and time now, she may not be the only exciting prospect the ten-year-old son of Dansili will have representing him this season.

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