Groupie Doll Win For Innovative Idea

Innovative Idea gained her first G3 victory in the mile Groupie Doll Stakes on dirt at Ellis Park, USA, on Saturday, August 6.

The four-year-old Bernardini filly, trained by Eoin Harty and ridden by Marlon St Julien, broke well and led early.

She was then settled in second on the inside and remained in that position until turning for home. The first quarter mile was run in a fast 23.11, with the half-mile in 45.95s.

Switched out to make her challenge, Innovative Idea ran on well to take the lead with a furlong to go and, despite drifting right in the closing stages, won well by half a length from Emmajestic in 1m 36.33s. An objection by the second was overruled.

Eoin Harty commented: "Innovative Idea had to do it the hard way but I never doubted her when she got to the top of the stretch - she is a pleasure to train.

"We had been considering coming here or going for two G1s and this looked the most winnable of the three. I thought she would run well - I wasn't expecting her to go a half in 45s and three-quarters in 10 to do it.

"But she is a tenacious little thing - she is just 15 hands - and extremely sound. She seems to be getting better and better.

"Bernardini is a stallion whose progeny improve with age. I will take Innovative Idea home and feed her plenty of carrots, kill her with kindness for a week or two and then make a decision about where to go next."

Marlon St Julien added: "I had to give up my position (in front) - they were going mighty fast and I was happy where I was.

"She prevailed and ran a great race."