This majestically bred filly has the perfect name and is ready to make a winning start on Monday

Our resident bloodstock experts profile the well-bred eyecatchers and expensive purchases set to grace the track.

Simply Astounding

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies' Maiden (5.05 Naas, Monday)

Simply Astounding17:05 Naas

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Jky: Ryan Moore Tnr: A P O'Brien

What's the story?

Simply Astounding is the description that could be applied to this Wootton Bassett filly's pedigree as a half-sibling to a Group 1 winner and a daughter of a champion who herself is a sister to two fillies triumphant at the highest level.

How's she bred?

In a word – majestically.

Simply Astounding is a half-sister to Group 1 National Stakes victor Henry Longfellow who is in the middle of his first season at Coolmore's Tipperary headquarters. The Dubawi colt was unbeaten at two, winning the Group 2 Futurity Stakes and a Curragh maiden for the Coolmore partners and Aidan O'Brien.

At three Henry Longfellow earned more Group 1 black type when runner-up in the St James's Palace Stakes and third in the Prix du Moulin.

Henry Longfellow was the first runner but second foal out of Minding, an exceptional daughter of Galileo whose seven Group 1 triumphs included the 1,000 Guineas, Oaks and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. 

The bay filly won nine of her 13 starts and never finished outside the top three. A Coolmore homebred she is rated the third-best of all Galileo's daughters on Racing Post Ratings (RPR) with her RPR of 123 one pound lower than Arc heroine Found and Magical, the only filly to win successive runnings of the Irish Champion Stakes.

Classic-winning sisters Minding and Tuesday at Coolmore America's Ashford StudCredit: Coolmore

Minding is one of three Classic winners foaled by Group 1 Coronation and Matron Stakes winner Lillie Langtry; the others are Oaks heroine Tuesday and Empress Josephine who was victorious in the Irish 1,000 Guineas.

By Danehill Dancer, Lillie Langtry is also the dam of Group 3 Derrinstown Stud Irish 1,000 Guineas Trial winner Kissed By Angels, a sister to Minding, Tuesday and Empress Josephine.

Lillie Langtry is closely related to stakes winner Count Of Limonade, by Duke Of Marmalade, and the Graded-placed Danilovna, a daughter of Dansili. It is the further family of Group 1 Prix de l'Opera winner Place Du Carrousel.

Minding's first foal is Victorium, a five-year-old filly from the final crop of Deep Impact and her third is Magic Ring, a three-year-old Dubawi sister to Henry Longfellow. Both Minding and Tuesday produced foals by Justify at Coolmore America this spring.

Who does she face?

Quite a large field has been declared for the opening contest on the card with 15 fillies facing the starter and only two have previous experience – Luna Beaux and Salacious – both down the field behind Baby Basma at Cork earlier this month.

Denis Hogan's London is an interesting contender as she carries a Qatari suffix. Bred by Al Jeryan Stud, the first-crop daughter of St Mark's Basilica runs for Mohammed Bin Hamad Khalifa Al Attiyah and is a daughter of Grade 1 Santa Monica Stakes winner Home Sweet Aspen, by Candy Ride.

Spring Is Here made €225,000 at the Goffs Orby Sale and is a Starspangledbanner sister to Group 3 Marble Hill Stakes winner and Middle Park runner-up Castle Star. She represents Joseph O'Brien and Dylan Browne McMonagle.

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