PADDY Twomey went close to landing the Group 1 Matron Stakes at Leopardstown when Pearls Galore was narrowly beaten so was not out of turn in gaining some fortune when his star filly La Petite Coco (114) edged out Love on the line to win the Group 2 Blandford Stakes.

Woodland Garden set a strong a gallop for stablemate Love (114) to aim at on her drop in grade and, for all but the final stride, it was a tactic the Ballydoyle team executed to perfection. However, La Petite Coco was not to be denied in the hands of Billy Lee and overhauled Aidan O’Brien’s filly courtesy of a closing three-furlong sectional of 36.23 seconds, which was the fastest of the day on the round track.

Love closed off just slightly slower in 36.37 seconds having been handier turning for home with the nearest comparable race in terms of distance, the concluding premier handicap won by Max Mayhem (99; 36.32 seconds) that was run at a pedestrian early pace.

High quality Trail

Charlie Appleby made it three wins in four years in the National Stakes as his colt Native Trail (118) produced a display of the highest quality to lower the colours of the previously unbeaten Point Lonsdale and catapult himself to the head of next year’s Qipco 2000 Guineas betting.

The overall race time was 0.83 seconds faster than Discoveries (111) in the Moyglare Stud Stakes and the son of Oasis Dream was also faster through the closing sectional posting 36.00 seconds for the final three furlongs compared to the winning filly who clocked 36.22 seconds for the same distance of ground.

From a pure time-figure perspective, Point Lonsdale (114; 36.99 seconds) and Ebro River (114; 37.06s), who filled the places in the colts’ race, ran to the same figure as when winning on their latest starts adding further substance to the performance of a colt who is likely to continue progressing with racing.

Turnaround in Moyglare

The Moyglare Stud Stakes saw a turnaround in form of the Debutante Stakes with Discoveries stepping forward for the better ground and Agartha (109; 36.50 seconds) probably not quite so effective without the ease in the ground that saw her prevail three weeks previous.

Elsewhere on the card, Big Gossey (94) clocked a fast overall time which is supported by the closing sectional of 35.92 seconds, figures which indicate the Charles O’Brien-trained gelding saw out the trip better than his rivals.

And finally, connections of the well-backed King X J (80) knew their colt had stepped forward from his debut given he landed a gamble, posting a smart closing sectional of 36.06 seconds, albeit off a slower gallop than the two-year-old group races.

Andy Bate’s column continues on next page