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First win for Viola!

28 August 2020

On Thursday 27 August, Viola became winner number 397 for the Club, as we edge closer to that magical milestone of 400 winners. Viola is homebred out of broodmare Sistine, who lives in Ireland at Oak Lodge Stud. Viola is yet another winner for top stallion Lope De Vega, and is developing a real physical presence. Viola has been nurtured beautifully by James Fanshawe, who has excelled with so many late maturing fillies during his career. James achieved another Group 1 winners just days before Viola scored, when sending apparent outsider Audarya to win the Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville.

James said of his latest Group 1 winner: "When these fillies are right, you've just got to run them and take a chance in these big races."

Viola has formed a really good partnership with Dan Muscutt, who settles her beautifully. Viola was narrowly beaten in her previous visit to Lingfield, when denied up a run up the inside of the course in the home straight. Viola defied a 4lb rise in the weights to win on Thursday, and appears to be improving with each run. Dan thinks she will stay further in time, so she should be an exciting prospect.