PEARLS GALORE (Invincible Spirit) became the 29th individual Gr.1 winner out of a PIVOTAL mare when landing the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown in emphatic style. Paddy Twomey’s mare was second in the contest last season but was not for catching in first-time cheekpieces on this occasion. She is a Haras de Saint Pair homebred out of the Gr.3 winner PEARL BANKS (Pivotal), who has produced two other stakes winners from just five runners.
On the same weekend, Haras de la Perelle’s homebred SIMCA MILLE (Tamayuz) was victorious in the Gr.2 Prix Niel. He is the first foal out of the PIVOTAL mare Swertia. Trained and co-owned by Stephane Wattel, Simca Mille was a narrow second to Onesto (Frankel) in the Gr.1 Grand Prix de Paris on his previous start.
Pivotal’s presence was also noted on the damside of Coolmore’s juvenile Gr.2 winner AUGUSTE RODIN (Deep Impact). This exciting colt is out of multiple Gr.1 winner Rhododendron (Galileo), who herself is out of the dual Gr.1 winner Halfway to Heaven (Pivotal).