Mirage set for stakes debut in Surfer Girl

ARCADIA, Calif. – The 2-year-old filly Mirage won her debut at Brighton Racecourse in England in a $7,600 maiden race at six furlongs in early June. She made quite an impression with that three-quarter-length victory.

Less than two weeks later, Mirage was purchased for approximately $592,000 at the Goffs London sale at Kensington Palace in London.

Nearly four months later, Mirage is ready for her stakes debut Saturday in the $100,000 Surfer Girl Stakes at Santa Anita. Expectations are understandably high for owner Fitri Hay and trainer Simon Callaghan.

Callaghan has taken a cautious approach with Mirage, an Irish-bred filly by Oasis Dream. She initially was considered a candidate for the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf on Sept. 7 but was held out of that race.

“She’s got the pedigree to run here,” Callaghan said. “She came in, and we felt we didn’t want to push it. I think she coughed a little, and we decided to be more patient.”

Mirage, previously trained by Jamie Osborne, was the second-most-expensive horse at the one-day sale in June, held on the eve of the opening day of the Royal Ascot meeting.

The Surfer Girl Stakes is run at a mile on turf for 2-year-old fillies. Mirage will be ridden by Tyler Baze and is part of a field of 11. She will break from post 3.

“I think she’s got a nice post,” Callaghan said.

Callaghan cited Jakaby Jade, the winner of the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf, as the horse to beat.

“It’s a competitive race,” he said. “There are a lot of solid horses.”