Laurens claimed a last-gasp victory in the William Hill May Hill Stakes at Doncaster on Thursday.

Karl Burke's filly was a narrow winner on her racecourse debut at this venue in July before filling the runner-up spot in the Group 3 Prix du Calvados at Deauville last month.

Stepping up to Group 2 level on Town Moor, she was the 11/4 market leader in the hands of P.J. McDonald, but it was not easy viewing for favourite-backers.

Laurens appeared to be caught a little flat-footed when Nyaleti upped the ante inside the final three furlongs and at that stage she looked booked for minor honours at best.

However, Burke's charge eventually found top gear and got up to beat course and distance winner Dark Rose Angel by a head, with Nyaleti the same distance away in third.

Burke was completing a double on the afternoon having landed the preceding nursery with Ellthea (8/1).

"She's a beautiful-natured filly with the looks, the class and the action," said the Leyburn-based trainer.

"We've thought a lot of her for a long time. She was an expensive yearling (£220,000) and you can see why now.

"It's a relief. John (Dance, owner) was nervous and would rather have gone for a listed race and got that blacktype win into her, but there weren't too many opportunities and I persuaded him to come here.

"She's had a tough race today so we'll see if she runs again this year. She's not in the Prix Marcel Boussac. She could be supplemented. There is the Fillies' Mile, which gives her an extra week, so that's possible.

"There's a long way to go from now until next year and a lot can happen in a racehorse's life in a week, never mind six months. But if everything stays together and she's in one piece, then she's very useful."

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