The 'Avonbridge Filly' in the Lord Ilsley Racing syndicate ran from Mick Channon's stables in the UK has been named River Spirit. Her sire is an English horse called Avonbridge, who was a European champion sprinter, taking the GI Prix L'Abbaye as well as six other races from 22 starts. He also claimed second place four times, and four thirds - this bodes well for the filly, as she's built like a sprinter. Avonbridge's father was an old warrior called Averti, but his sire was Warning - a winner of the coveted Queen Elizabeth Stakes that carried a good dose of Roberto DNA. Imperial Jade was the dam of Averti, with Lochnager as the damsire. On the female side, Avonbridge's mother was Alessia (owned by the same people as Avonbridge), who passed on Nijinsky's precious blood via Caerleon.
The filly's dam is Pooka's Daughter, who won three races before becoming a broodmare. She passes on Danzig blood on the male side, and Statoblest blood (an Irish winner of the King George Stakes) on the female side. There's nothing amazing in the dam lines, but each of the ladies has produced its fair share of winners, with Gaelic's Fantasy and Morning Welcome between them giving birth to no less than 16 winners from 20 foals.
She had a bug or two during the long, wet winter, but is now clearing up nicely, and looking good on the gallops again, eating well and eager to please. I'm looking forward to seeing her race...
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