Mother Earth Starts Year Strong With Win at Curragh

Mother Earth  got her 2022 campaign off to a winning start by producing a workmanlike success in the Lodge Park Stud Irish European Breeders Fund Park Express Stakes (G3). 

Ridden by Ryan Moore, last year's QIPCO One Thousand Guineas Stakes (G1) and Prix Rothschild (G1) winner was put to the pin of her collar to get to the frontrunning 5-year-old Insinuendo  inside the final furlong, and then had to dig deep to hold off the rallying runner-up by three-quarters of a length, with Freedom of Speech a further 1 3/4 lengths away.

"We were delighted with that. It was a very nice race to start her off in and it worked out perfectly," trainer Aidan O'Brien said. "They went very steady and Ryan had to move early on her, but she quickened well and that was perfect for her after we gave her a nice break. She will probably go to something like the Lockinge Stakes (G1) now."

Mother Earth is out of the stakes winning Green Desert mare, Many Colours  who recorded US$276, 926 in earnings and a victory in the Dance Design Stakes. Out of seven foals to start, the dam has produced four winners including group 2 winner Night Colours  who found success in the Premio Dormello (G2). The dam also has a 2-year-old Sioux Nation  filly and a yearling National Defense  colt.