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Broome and Epona Plays win at Naas on Sunday

Australia (Galileo) sired a stakes double at Naas on Sunday with Broome (5 h ex Sweepstakes by Acclamation) winning the Devoy Stakes (Listed, 1m2f) and Epona Plays (4 f ex New Plays by Oratorio (IRE)) taking out the Park Express Stakes (Gr 3, 1m). 

Broome had gone winless in four starts since he captured the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial (Gr 1, 1m2f) in May 2019, however, on Sunday the Aidan O’Brien-trained entire returned to winning ways and scored a three and a half length victory over Sunchart (Teofilo). Sonnyboyliston (Power) was another six lengths back in third. 

Broome, who has now won four of his 12 career starts and finished placed on two occasions including second in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Gr 1, 1600m) as a two-year-old in October 2018, was bought by MV Magnier for 150,000gns at the 2017 Tattersalls December Yearling Sale. He is one of four winners out of the dual Listed winner Sweepstake (Acclamation) and is from the family of Group 1 winning sire Zoffany (Dansili). 

Epona Plays meanwhile scored a one and three quarter length victory over British raider Parent’s Prayer (Kingman) who is trained in England by Archie Watson. Sziget (Footstepsinthesand) was another two lengths back in third. Epona Plays has now won three of her 11 career starts including the Fillies Stakes (Gr 3, 1m1.5f) at Gowran Park last September. 

Epona Plays is one of four winners, from as many foals to race, out of the unraced Oratorio (Danehill) mare New Plays, making her a half-sister to fellow Group 3 winner Dolce Strega (Zoffany) and the stakes placed filly Bumbasina (Canford Cliffs). 

Coolmore Stud-based Australia, who is standing for a fee of €25,000, this year has sired 17 stakes winners in total headed by the Group 1 winning pair Galileo Chrome and Order Of Australia. He now has three crops of racing age.