Ballet Shoes waltzes away with  Coolmore Ivawood Stakes

After winning the listed Coolmore Ivawood Stakes in 2016, the Aidan O’Brien-trained Capri went on to much greater things, winning the Irish Derby, and his trainer completed back-to-back victories in the Tipperary race, doing so with a filly, Ballet Shoes.

The form of her maiden victory, at the Curragh, took a hit on Thursday night, when runner-up New To Town could only finish fifth in a Leopardstown maiden. But that didn’t stop the winner enhancing her reputation. In the first two from the outset, she eased to the front before turning into the straight, and ran on strongly to the line to race home clear favourite Lethal Steps.

The authority of the performance came as no surprise to winning rider Donnacha O’Brien, who expects big things from the daughter of Galileo. The winning rider carried 3lbs overweight.