While it was all smiles in the camp of the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained filly after Saturday’s G2 Darley Silver Shadow S., it was the opposite for the connections of the favourite See You Soon (Siyouni {Fr}) whose manners again let her down.
See You Soon was scratched at the barrier for refusing to load and not for the first time after the temperamental youngster had displayed similar behaviour in her first trial back from a spell.
She was then on her best behaviour at the Kensington trials last week and walked up without incident, but clearly trainer Jean Dubois has his work cut out for him to sort See You Soon out.
By contrast, Dame Giselle has a faultless approach and such was the speed she showed out of the gates for jockey Tommy Berry that the filly took up the uncustomary role of pacemaker and she played a blinder, holding off an assault from Exosphere filly Thermosphere who also put in an impressive performance to follow.
“It wasn’t our intention to be that far forward with the speed inside, but she jumped that well and Tommy let her go,” Paul Snowden said.
“She had a nice run in front and she was too good, the class rose to the top and she’s got a good campaign in front of her.”
“She had a nice run in front and she was too good, the class rose to the top and she’s got a good campaign in front of her.” – Paul Snowden
Dame Giselle had looked well above average during her six-start 2-year-old preparation with success in the Golden Gift and the G2 Reisling S. and was given a break after she finished fourth in the G2 Percy Sykes S.
Lead-up trials at Randwick and on the Kensington track had her forward to resume and Snowden said there was more to come.
“She’s not screwed right down and a few easy sectionals during the race helped her.”
Paul Snowden
Best is yet to come
Snowden’s opinion was backed up by Berry, who said the best is yet to come from Dame Giselle.
“Today was only a stepping stone for her and she had a decent blow afterwards. Her first trial was very quiet and in her second we didn’t ask a heap of her so there was always going to be plenty of improvement.
“She is definitely stronger and last time she felt like more of a sprinter to me, but now she feels like she’s going to get over further.”
“She is definitely stronger and last time she felt like more of a sprinter to me, but now she feels like she’s going to get over further.” – Tommy Berry
Dame Giselle travelled well in front and had enough in reserve to see off the challenge of the James Cummings-trained Thermosphere and jockey Kerrin McEvoy with Kris Lees’ Miss Canada (Exceed And Excel) third.
“Even when Kerrin was coming at me late she still had the race won. I guess we really won it in the first 150 metres when she jumped so well and I was going to take cover, but I took advantage of the good start,” Berry said.
Dame Giselle was offered by Sledmere Stud at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale where she was offered on behalf of breeder China Horse Club. It has stayed in the ownership after she was knocked down to Go Bloodstock for $500,000.
The filly is a daughter of the dual Group 2 winner and G1 Thousand Guineas placegetter Ballet Society (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}).
Her six foals to race are all winners and includes the Group 3 performer The Fairy’s Kiss (Elusive Quality {USA}) and the mother of the Listed Merson Cooper S. winner Steal My Kisses (I Am Invincible).
The dam is a half-sister to the dual Group 1 winner Cent Home (NZ) (Lord Ballina) and his brother Studebaker (NZ), who won an edition of the G2 Turnbull S. winner Studebaker (NZ).
Snowden said Dame Giselle would now follow the rest of the Princess Series, which includes the G2 Furious S. on September 7, the G2 Tea Rose S. three weeks later and the G1 Flight S. on October 5.
Dame Giselle as a yearling
