WHAT a transformation has been wrought in Red Lark. She has gone from being an Irish-trained maiden, runner-up on her fifth and final start in this country last October, to being a Grade 1 winner in the USA when she captured the Del Mar Oaks last weekend. In the process she gave her Darley Australia sire Epaulette (Commands) his second top-level winner.

Red Lark carried the colours of Sonia Rogers from Airlie Stud when she raced here, trained by Johnny Murtagh. Mrs Rogers bred the filly with her brother, Sir Thomas Pilkington, and they failed twice to sell her as a yearling, at Goffs in February 2018 and later the same year at Fairyhouse. Her first four runs probably left connections wondering had they made the right decision, but a sale to the USA ensued and now the filly is a Grade 1 winner.