Lupini’s Rose blooms as Irish Champions Festival gets under way

A dash of Milanese glamour combined with Ulster nous and supreme Limerick steering combined to get Irish Champions Festival off to a memorable start as Kitty Rose made it two from two in the Listed Ballylinch Stud Irish EBF Ingabelle Stakes under the scorching sun at Leopardstown.

A love of horses brought Natalia Lupini from Milan to Ireland as a teenager and after saddling her first winner in 2016, she quickly established her capability with the consistent level of the likes of Dunum and Blairmayne.

A beaming Lupini labelled Classic prospect Kitty Rose as the best she has had at her yard in Banbridge, Co Down after the daughter of Invincible Army galloped to a two-and-a-half-length triumph under Billy Lee at odds of 3/1, with Aidan O’Brien’s well-supported 13/8 favourite Content in second and Serious Notions running a huge race for Ger Lyons a half-length further back in third.

“She’s a big filly, very honest and when she gets into a rhythm she gallops towards the line. She gives it all.

“We always thought we had a nice filly on our hands. Obviously, first time out, you hope everything goes well. We were hoping for a nice run but she won impressively at Naas and today again she was very impressive. When she picks up she just keeps galloping. She’s very, very honest.

“The lads were looking at the Guineas (for her) next year. She’ll be a stronger filly and she won’t have any problems over a mile.

“It’s a great achievement for everyone, for the lads working in the yard and for the owners as well. Everyone puts in so much effort so it’s great for everyone.”

The victory, Lupini’s 11th of the campaign, is the highlight of what has been the Italian’s most successful season to date and but the best is to come with the trainer expecting her first child on October 26.

“Six weeks away,” revealed a grinning trainer.

One suspects her more immediate thoughts surround what comes next for Kitty Rose and whether she will still have her next year, with Nigel O’Hare, Gary Devlin and the Kabin Racing Syndicate likely to receive some hefty offers for their pride and joy in the wake of this scintillating triumph.

“We’ll see how she comes out of this race and we’ll talk to the owners and see what they would like to do. We would like to give her a bit of time in the winter to fill out. She’s a big filly and will benefit from a winter break. She’ll be a nice three-year-old and we’re very much looking forward to having her next year. Hopefully we’ll get to train her.

“The owners have been buying nice horses and they’ve been supporting us greatly so it’s great to have a winner on a big day and for keeping her for this day as well.”