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We are likely to see some exciting two-year-olds come out of Ballydoyle over the course of the season but the manner of Buttons’ victory in the 7f Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden at Leopardstown on Thursday (8 June) was particularly impressive.
It was a strong field of well-bred fillies, including Buttons' stable-mate Content(out of Group 1 winning sprinter Mecca's Angel) and Ger Lyons' Serious Notions, who is a half-sister to Group 3 victor Simply Breathless. Buttons jumped well and was sat handily in second before jockey Ryan Moore began to ask questions of the filly at the three furlong marker. She was pushed along two furlongs out when forced to defend second place from a quickening Serious Notions, and hit top gear entering the final furlong, staying on well to score by a nose from Serious Notions with Content a head back in third. The filly shaped as though she would thrive on a longer trip and it appears that the first three home are all possible Black Type performers in the future.
In a post-race interview, Aidan O'Brien confirmed Buttons' potential and said: "We're delighted with her. We rushed her a little bit to get her out because we thought she could be a Chesham filly, but Ryan just said she's too babyish for that.
"We'll just pull back and give her a bit of time before we go again. Ryan said even though she's by Kingman she will stay and seven [furlongs] would be her minimum. She was green turning and everything. She's a very well-bred filly."
Buttons is a direct descendant of Urban Sea through the maternal line with second dam All Too Beautiful being one of nine Black Type performers (including Sea The Stars and Galileo) out of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine. All Too Beautiful produced three foals placed in Stakes company including Oaks runner-up Wonder Of Wonders (Kingmambo), dual Listed winner Victory Song (Dansili) and Sparrow (Oasis Dream), best known for being the dam of Sir Dragonet, who was a Group 1 winner in Australia.
Buttons dam Wonder Of Wonders has been successful since retiring to stud, producing Irish 1000 Guineas third So Wonderful, Group 3 placed Antilles and Tree Of Knowledge, who was placed multiple times over hurdles.