Sister to Group 1 Winner Journey Off to Strong Start
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Photo: Photos by Z
George and Julia Strawbridge at the Eclipse Awards
George Strawbridge has enjoyed plenty of big-race success over the years, and Indigo Girl looks another exciting talent to don the famous white and green silks.
The full sister to Journey made light work of her four rivals on debut at Yarmouth Aug. 30 to come home three lengths clear, and a step up grade looks assured in the near future.
Journey produced a career-best effort when slamming her rivals by four lengths in the 2016 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (G1) at Ascot on Champions Day. She had previously struck in the 188bet.co.uk Pinnacle Stakes (G3) and was a creditable second to Bateel in the following year's Qatar Prix Vermeille (G1) in what turned out to be her penultimate start.
Their dam, the Strawbridge-owned and -bred Montare, also proved to be a class act on the track. By Montjeu, she struck in the Prix Royal-Oak (French St. Leger, G1) at 4, with other notable wins coming in the Prix du Conseil de Paris (G2)—twice—and Prix de Royallieu Hotel Hermitage Barriere de la Baule (G2).
Montare has also proven to be highly able in her second career, with six winners from nine offspring to have run. The Oasis Dream-sired Travelling Man, placed seven times in pattern company, including when third behind Marmelo(GB) in the Prix de Barbeville (G3) in 2017, was the second of her offspring to gain black type, and the 3-year-old Makfi filly Mostly scored at Kempton this month.
She has since produced another Dubawi filly. She was bred to Kingman last year and visited Too Darn Hot this time around.
It was a successful weekend for Strawbridge as he also bred Barriere Prix Quincey (G3) winner Stunning Spirit, who struck by 3 1/2 lengths at Deauville.