Moyglare Stud matriarch Polished Gem shines again with Amma Grace

Moyglare Stud's marvellous matriarch Polished Gem sparkled again on Saturday when her two-year-old daughter Amma Grace became her ninth winner with a decisive victory on her second start at Leopardstown.

Under Oisin Orr, wearing the famous black and white silks and red cap with black star of Moyglare Stud, Amma Grace raced prominently and took up the running soon after the home turn in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden over a mile.

View full result and watch race replay

The Dermot Weld-trained filly soon stretched clear and although her rivals came back to her in the closing stages, she was a comfortable three-quarters of a length winner over Roca Roma, with Epona Plays another length and a half behind in third.

The placed horses are both by Australia.

Amma Grace looks an exciting prospect for 2020, and could extend the already remarkable record of her dam.

She is a sibling to two Group 1 winners – Prince of Wales's Stakes hero and young sire Free Eagle and last month's Irish St Leger winner Search For A Song – as well as the durable multiple Group 2 victor Custom Cut, British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes scorer Sapphire and further stakes winners Falcon Eight and Valac.

Amma Grace is, like Falcon Eight and Search For A Song, by Coolmore phenomenon Galileo but it is interesting to note that Polished Gem made her name with less expensive covers.

Her first foal, Sapphire, was the result of a mating with Medicean that cost £30,000, while her second offspring, Custom Cut, was conceived when his sire Notnowcato stood his first season at a fee of £8,000.

Oisin Orr, Malachy Ryan, Pat Smullen and Kris Weld discuss Amma Grace's victoryCredit: Caroline Norris

Polished Gem has been paired with Galileo for her last five matings, and she also has a yearling colt by the sire of Saturday's British Champions Day winners Magical and Kew Gardens and was covered by him this year at the age of 16.

The Danehill mare hails from an outstanding Moyglare Stud dynasty, as she is out of Irish 1,000 Guineas heroine Trusted Partner, making her a sister to Matriarch Stakes and Sun Chariot Stakes winner Dress To Thrill.

Trusted Partner was in turn out of Talking Picture, a multiple Grade 1-winning daughter of Speak John who also produced stakes winners Easy To Copy, Epicure's Garden, Guaranteed Income and Low Key Affair.

Talking Picture also features as ancestress of top-class performers Amira's Prince, Forgotten Rules, Gallante, Unaccompanied and Vert De Grece.

Amma Grace, the latest potential star for the family, holds an entry in the Irish 1,000 Guineas.

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