Goldana, left, comes home best in the Curragh© Photo Healy Racing
Joseph O'Brien appears to have a smart recruit on his hands as Goldana unleashed a finishing kick on Irish debut to win the Group 3 Lester Piggott Gladness Stakes over seven furlongs. Mea Domina a French import for Paddy Twomey who was third on Irish debut at Leopardstown, soon dictated under Billy Lee.
She was still blazing away in the final quarter of a mile, but Cosmic Vega and Goldana closed inside the final furlong.
Goldana finished off to best effect and raced past Mea Domina in the closing stages to prevail by a length and three quarters at 17/2. Runner-up, Mea Domina, was the 2/1 favourite and she was a neck in front of Cosmic Vega (12/1).
Goldana won three times in Germany including at Listed level on her last start at Hanover in October.
O’Brien said: “I’m delighted for the owners. It’s their first horse with me and she looks a smart filly going forward. She had good form on slow ground in Germany and it’s nice to start off the season with a Group win for her.
“We bought her in Arqana last year and she is a sister to Love Reigns who is a smart filly for Wesley Ward. She has a pedigree and was a Listed winner already.
“She won her Listed race over nine furlongs so she’ll probably stay a bit further. It looked as though she got a little bit outpaced when they quickened up, but she came good in the last 100 yards.
“She has loads of options and there is a lovely programme for fillies. The Athasi back here may come a bit quick for her.”
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
