Goodwood winner Imvula.
Imvula built on her promising debut effort at Nottingham to run out a cosy winner of the mile fillies’ maiden at Goodwood on Friday evening.
Having finished fifth on her racecourse bow, she became the fourth subsequent winner to have emerged out of that contest when holding Ella’s Honour by three-quarters of a length under an excellent ride by Richard Hughes.
Settled towards the head of affairs by the champion jockey, Imvula made smooth headway inside the three before taking up the running with a quarter of a mile left to run.
Having looked as though she would be swamped inside the last, with challengers emerging on both flanks, Imvula fought gamely to repel all comers and was ultimately in control at the line.
Congratulations to her owner, Mrs Gaynor Rupert, who is a major figure in South African racing as the owner of Drakenstein Stud, home to Duke Of Marmalade.
This was an important win for a filly with such a striking page – she is a half-sister to champion South African mare Dancer’s Daughter - and the handicapper cannot go overboard given the proximity of the principals, so she should make her mark when switched to the handicap ranks.