Godolphin filly can strike gold

OTTOMAN Empress will not need to improve much on her debut performance to strike gold at the second time of asking in the British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes at Yarmouth.

- 

Jonathan Burke riding Tripoli Flyer winning The Ladbrokes Dovecote Novices' Hurdle at Kempton Park in February. The novice hurdler is back in action at Perth today

(ALAN CROWHURST/GETTY IMAGES)

A 550,000 guineas yearling purchase for the Godolphin team, the daughter of Zarak was a hot favour-ite on her introduction at Newmarket late last month but her supporters will have had immediate concerns after she swerved right coming out of the starting stalls, putting her on the back foot from the off.

After making steady headway, she showed signs of her inexperience racing out of the dip before the penny dropped late on and she finished with a flourish to be beaten three-quarters of a length by fellow newcomer Golden Orbit.

It is too early to say what that form is worth, but Ottoman Empress left the distinct impression she is a winner in waiting.