Pretty Mischievous third on comeback in G1 La Troienne Stakes

Pretty Mischievous kept to her task on a sloppy track to finish third on her seasonal reappearance in the G1 La Troienne Stakes at Churchill Downs, USA, on Friday, 3 May.

Returning to the scene of her Kentucky Oaks victory, last season’s Champion Three Year-Old Filly broke sharply for Tyler Gaffalione and raced in third as Idiomatic and Dorth Vader duelled for the early lead.

Xigera passed Pretty Mischievous rounding the first turn, although the Brendan Walsh-trained filly was still within three lengths of the leader Dorth Vader down the back.

Pretty Mischievous regained third from Xigera as Idiomatic took up the running with just under half a mile to race and the Godolphin homebred closed on the leading pair approaching the home straight.

Free Like A Girl snuck up the inside rail at the top of the lane and little more than a length covered the leading quartet a furlong and a half from home. Idiomatic drew clear of Free Like A Girl inside the final furlong, with Pretty Mischievous outbattling Dorth Vader for third in the closing strides to go down by just over five lengths.

Tyler Gaffalione said: “I thought it was a creditable effort. It was the first time off a layoff and Pretty Mischievous was bound to get tired. The sloppy track didn’t do us any favours today. It’s never been her favourite surface and she struggled quite a bit down the lane. I’m very proud of her effort and hopefully it’s a good year for her.”