John McArdle might not recall much about the 2012 Debutant Stakes, but the race’s winner, Villa Verde, now plays a central role in his latest bid for Group 1 success.
Back then, McArdle had entered Zapata Falls and Tens All Round, but neither ran. That decision meant he avoided facing Villa Verde, who would later beat future Golden Slipper winner Overreach.
“I don’t remember it, but Tens All Round won her debut at Sale before injury, and Zapata Falls was a solid performer before heading north,” McArdle recalled.
Now, over a decade later, McArdle is hoping Villa Verde’s daughter, My Gladiola, will deliver his biggest career win in the Blue Diamond Stakes.
My Gladiola, sired by I Am Invincible, burst onto the scene with a dominant debut win in the Group 3 Blue Diamond Preview (1000m), positioning herself as a key contender.
Villa Verde, a bargain $95,000 Inglis Premier purchase, not only won the Ottawa Stakes and Challenge Stakes but also fetched $1.1 million when sold as a broodmare.
Her earlier foals, including Daksha, Shivani, Invencible, and Blue Special, had varying degrees of success, but My Gladiola appears to be the standout of the family.
“I’ve seen them all, and she’s the most developed,” McArdle noted. “She’s powerful, well-built, and immediately caught our attention.”
Villa Verde’s lineage traces back to Rory’s Jester, a Golden Slipper winner and legendary sire. McArdle, who worked with Rory’s Jester’s progeny early in his career, believes this pedigree, combined with I Am Invincible’s influence, will make My Gladiola a serious contender.
“She looks every bit a two-year-old, but the ‘Vinnies’ improve with age, so there’s plenty more to come,” he said. “She’s already worth more than what we paid.”
Set to start from barrier 11 under jockey Jamie Mott, My Gladiola will aim to capitalize on her turn of foot. After leading and being caught in the Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m), McArdle is eager for a change in tactics.
“We’ll take a sit and let her unleash late,” he said. “She’s got a blistering turn of foot, and hopefully, that’s the key to winning on Saturday.”
