PIPALONG

- THE FLYING FILLY

Fast fillies are special racehorses and the Weatherbys Digital Solutions

Listed Pipalong Stakes run at Pontefract commemorates one of the toughest there has been.

Pipalong, born in January 1996 and bred in Ireland by Yeomanstown Stud, was a daughter of the stallion Pips Pride and out of the Green Desert mare Limpopo, a first foal out of the 1987 Irish champion older miler Grey Goddess (Gods Walk).

Yeomanstown sold her as a yearling at Tattersalls October to a cash buyer for 7,000gns. She was an inspired buy – for the following four racing seasons and through 37 racecourse starts her owners

Tom Bennett and Marjorie Easterby, mother of the filly’s trainer Tim, enjoyed a fine time with the well-bought filly.

Pipalong’s racecourse debut in April as a two-year-old gave connections an idea of the talent she possessed – she won by a clear 12 lengths at Ripon. Her win next time out at York was a closer affair, she took on Bint Allayl and succeeded by a neck; the placings between the two subsequently reversed in the Queen Mary Stakes (G3) at Royal Ascot.

Tim Easterby’s flying bay filly then went on to finish second in the Cherry Hinton Stakes (G2) at Newmarket to Wannabe Grand, picked up a fourth place in the Listed Oh So Sharp Stakes before collecting the Redcar Two-Year-Old Trophy in October.

At three she ran in some top sprints did not win until August – back at Ripon she beat the colts in the Great St Wilfrid Handicap. Subsequent outings in the Group 1 Sprint Cup and the Ayr Gold Cup did not reap rewards and it was not until the last day of the 1999 Turf season in the 6f Listed Wentworth Stakes at Doncaster that she put her head back in front, the filly relishing her favoured soft ground.

As is so often with sprinters Pipalong produced her best as a four-year-old. She won on her seasonal debut before adding a first Group 3 to her CV with victory in the Palace House Stakes (G3) at Newmarket.

The tough campaigner then hit her form of life through July to September–shefinishedthirdbehindAgnesWorldintheJulyCup(G1),filled the same placing in the Nunthorpe Stakes (G1) to Nuclear World before her career-defining victory in the Group 1 Sprint Cup ahead of Sampower Star Her four-year-old season concluded with another Group 1 third this time behind Namid in the Prix de l’Abbaye (G1) at the Arc meeting at Longchamp.

At five, she won the Duke of York Stakes (G2) but then did not trouble the judge again until another third placing in the Prix de l’Abbaye (G1).

As a broodmare she produced three winners headed by Walk On Bye (Danehill Dancer), who won the Anglesey Stakes (G3) and finished third in the Phoenix Stakes (G1).

By Sally Duckett