First Group win for Marbling

Kingman mare Marbling produced a late challenge in the Gr.3 Brownstown Stakes yesterday to snatch victory at the line.

Taken from the European Bloodstock News, 11th July 2022:

Marbling provided trainer Ger Lyons with a fourth win in the Gr.3 Brownstown Stakes at Fairyhouse yesterday afternoon, leading in the final stride of the seven furlong contest to deny the gutsy front-runner Nectaris.

Neither of the main protagonists featured prominently in the pre-race betting, as the Gr.1 Irish 1,000 Guineas fourth Star Girls Aalmaal was sent off a warm favourite, with the hattrick seeking Affogato her main market rival. Nectaris established herself in the lead soon after the stalls opened, with Diadora and Surrounding chasing. Marbling raced in mid-division, not far behind Star Girls Aalmaal, with Affogato settled towards the rear.

The favourite made smooth headway to challenge a quarter of a mile from home, but could not sustain her effort in the face of stern resistance from the game Nectaris. The long-time leader appeared to have all bases covered at that point, but a late surge from Marbling secured her the verdict by a nose. The 2019 winner Surrounding was a length and a quarter back in third, with the winner’s stable companion Affogato eased up late on due to a slipping saddle.

Five-year-old Marbling began her career in France with André Fabre, for whom she won a 1400m minor event at Le Mans. The Juddmonte homebred was sourced by Gaelic Bloodstock for 42,000gns at the 2020 edition of the Tattersalls December Mare Sale, and earned her first victory for new owners Sean Jones, David Spratt and Lynne Lyons when taking a 7f Dundalk handicap in October of last year.

She is a half-sister to the two-time winner and Gr.3 Ballyroan Stakes third Broad Street, while her second dam is the Gr.1 Prix de Diane and Gr.1 Prix du Moulin heroine Nebraska Tornado.

Trainer Ger Lyons commented: "Marbling is great. We've always had faith in her, we just didn't know what trip was her best. Gary (Carroll) said if he had been beaten it would've been his fault, as he pulled the stick through and she wandered a bit. The likes of her and Sh Boom that we keep in training, we know they're blacktype, it's just a question of where we can get it. It's very competitive over here, and I'm not a great man for travelling, so when we get it here, we earn it. It's important for her. Job done."