The Gr.2 Moonee Valley Fillies Classic at Moonee Valley saw Salty Pearl (Tagaloa) confirm her quality, patiently stalking the early leaders before finding the gaps and powering through under Ben Allen to claim a decisive victory.
The Thousand Guineas looked the superior formline and it proved correct, as Salty Pearl, who had finished fourth in that race behind Ole Dancer (Ole Kirk), burst through late to defeat Chris Waller’s Enviable (Frankel {GB}) by a length, who fought on gamely for second.
Winning trainer Ciaron Maher was full of praise for both horse and rider.
“You don’t get much better than that. Ben’s had a great association with her and he’s riding with a lot of confidence. It was a beautiful, patient ride. He had to wait for his time, and he knew what he had underneath him and it was a very good result. This race came up a bit light, so I thought we’d have a go,” Maher said.
Maher also outlined potential future targets.
“She might tackle a Group 1 like the Surround,” he said.
“She wasn’t far away in the Thousand Guineas. Restricted to fillies, that is probably her go. If she improves again then she’ll be thereabouts. We put the shades on the last couple of starts and got that much more focus as well. She’s a filly with a bright future.”
Winning jockey Ben Allen praised the filly’s turn-of-foot and composure.
“She’s just so honest,” he said. “It was a big step putting the blinkers on and stepping up in trip last time. I think today it has helped and put her that much more in my hands. She’s been off the bridle and having to get up after 100 metres, I was able to sit, she’s got an electric turn-of-foot and she was the class horse today,” he said.
Salty Pearl was sold by Sullivan Bloodstock at the 2024 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale for $75,000 to Starblue Consultancy and Ciaron Maher Racing. She is one of two foals to race for Sebring mare Leaven Of Malice, who is a half-sister to Gr.3 winner Mildred (Hinchinbrook). It is also the immediate family of Group 1 Salinger Stakes winner Notoire (Export Price).
Written for TTRAusNZ
