COOLMORE FASTNET

ROCK MATRON STAKES

(Group 1)

AN all-star cast served up a terrific finish but, in a race that contained six individual Group 1 winners, it was Hydrangea who secured a breakthrough success at the highest level in tremendously game fashion.

One of four runners in the race for Aidan O’Brien, Hydrangea suffered an agonising last-gasp defeat in the Moyglare Stud Stakes at last year’s Champions Weekend.

At one point in the straight it looked as though a similar fate could beckon for the teak-tough filly, but this time she would not be denied as she edged out old foe Winter in a gripping finale.

Wayne Lordan’s second Matron Stakes winner had beaten Winter by a head when the pair clashed in a Group 3 all the way back in April. Since then, Winter, who could be in line for an Arc de Triomphe bid, had embarked on a Group 1-winning four-timer and Hydrangea had finished behind her in each of those races.

On this occasion Hydrangea was restored to her early season form as she posted much the best effort of her career to record a deserved success at the highest level.

The race itself was a straightforward one for the main protagonists and Hydrangea (20/1) looked on from second as Roly Poly cut out the running and Winter was content to track this pair in third.

Entering the last quarter of a mile, Lordan’s mount had moved upsides the leader but Winter was making her way between horses to challenge and Wuheida was arriving with a strong challenge on the outer.

Early in the final furlong there was almost nothing to choose between the leading quartet but, over the last 200 yards, Winter and Hydrangea separated themselves from the remainder. A bobbing finish ensued and it seemed as though Winter might cling on, but Hydrangea just had too much and she edged ahead in the dying strides.

The winning margin of a head was the same as that enjoyed by Hydrangea when she defeated Winter earlier this year.

Last year’s runner-up Persuasive ran a fine race to finish a further three-parts of a length back in third, with Wuheida taking fourth ahead of the French filly Qemah.

“I’m delighted for the filly and for Wayne. Hydrangea was the only one of ours who hadn’t won a Group 1 before today and she deserved it. It’s amazing how the form between her and Winter from earlier in the season has worked out today,” stated O’Brien after welcoming back the Galileo filly and groom Michael Murphy.

“We did feel that Winter would improve for the run and she’s in the Arc de Triomphe. Whether she goes there will depend on what the lads decide but it’s quite possible. The Prix de l’Opera would be the alternative for her.

“In terms of Hydrangea, she ran well over 10 furlongs in the Nassau at Goodwood so she might now head for the Opera,” concluded O’Brien.

Lordan, who won this race on Legatissimo in 2015, reflected: “Any time you ride in a Group 1 is great and they are so hard to win so it’s very special when you do win one. I did think this filly would run well and they came to her early in the straight which suited her very well as she’s a filly that loves a battle.”