WHAT a transformation has been wrought in Red Lark. She has gone from being an Irish-trained maiden, runner-up on her fifth and final start in this country last October, to being a Grade 1 winner in the USA when she captured the Del Mar Oaks last weekend. In the process she gave her Darley Australia sire Epaulette (Commands) his second top-level winner.

Red Lark carried the colours of Sonia Rogers from Airlie Stud when she raced here, trained by Johnny Murtagh. Mrs Rogers bred the filly with her brother, Sir Thomas Pilkington, and they failed twice to sell her as a yearling, at Goffs in February 2018 and later the same year at Fairyhouse. Her first four runs probably left connections wondering had they made the right decision, but a sale to the USA ensued and now the filly is a Grade 1 winner.

The last of 13 foals from her stakes-winning dam Firecrest, a daughter of Darshaan (Shirley Heights), Red Lark is her 11th winner and her best performer. She is one of five blacktype performers out of Firecrest and the previous four earned that status under National Hunt rules, with one, All Set To Go (Verglas) managing to be Group 3 placed on the level and Grade 3 placed over hurdles. Red Lark’s half-sister Tocororo (Teofilo) was a Grade 3 novice chase winner at Galway in the Gigginstown House colours before she sold as a broodmare for €100,000 at Goffs in 2017.

Firecrest was bred by Rebecca Phillips and sold as a yearling at Goffs for 50,000gns from Round Hill Stud, John Dunlop buying her for Sir Thomas Pilkington who was senior steward of the Jockey Club in Britain. Her five victories at three culminated with success in the Listed Galtres Stakes at York, and at the end of that season she was despatched to Airlie Stud as a breeding prospect.

Great family

Though this is a great flat family, Red Lark’s third dam being the champion French two-year-old filly First Bloom (Primera), the pedigree’s best runners have been equally adept on the flat and over jumps. Firecrest’s own-sister Gentle Thoughts (Darshaan) bred the Group 2 Henry II Stakes winner Blue Bajan (Montjeu) who went on to win the competitive Grade 3 Swinton Hurdle.

Descending from First Bloom are such outstanding performers as US Grade 1 winner and sire Talinum (Alydar), Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas winner Atlante (Fastnet Rock), Melbourne Cup winner Jeune (Kalaglow) and a host of Grade 1 and Grade 2 winners over jumps.

Epaulette spent five seasons in Europe, four at Kildangan Stud and one at Dalham Hall. Now permanently ensconced in his native Australia where he was a dual Group 1 winner, he is sire of the triple South African Group 1 winner Soqrat and Red Lark, as well as seven Group 3 winners.