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Australia sires 15th stakes winner
Fresh from siring his first Group 1 winner last weekend, Coolmore Stud-based stallion Australia (Galileo) chalked up his 15th stakes winner when Epona Plays (3 f ex New Plays by Oratorio) landed the Denny Cordell Lavarack and Lanwades Stud Fillies Stakes (Gr 3, 1m1½f) at Gowran Park on Saturday.
The William McCreery-trained three-year-old came into the race off the back of a good third in the Snow Fairy Stakes (Gr 3, 1m1f) and she went two better on Saturday when beating Etneya (Siyouni) by a neck and the pair pulled well clear of Cerro Bayo (Dansili) who finished another five lengths away in third.
Epona Plays is a daughter of unraced Oratorio (Danehill) mare New Plays, making her a half-sister to Athasi Stakes (Gr 3, 7f) winner Dolce Strega (Zoffany) and stakes-placed Bumbasina (Canford Cliffs).
Further back this is the same family as 2005 Queen Mary Stakes (Gr 2, 5f) stakes winner Flashy Wings (Zafonic), who was also placed at Group 1 level and Listed scorer Account Express (Roi Danzig).
Australia stood at Coolmore Stud’s Irish base for a fee of €27,500 in 2020.