Ribblesdale Stakes

(Group 2)

QUIET man David Wachman took defeat on the chin when his 1000 Guineas winner Legatissimo just failed to hold on in the Oaks.

He was smiling again when Curvy, another very talented three-year-old filly, completed a four-timer in the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes with Ryan Moore in the saddle.

In order to continue her winning run, Curvy had to account for Jim Bolger’s Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Pleascach, recently purchased by Godolphin, and this she managed by a length after the even-money favourite had led in the closing stages.

In a messy race there was scrimmaging two furlongs out, where the other Godolphin filly Entertainment went to her left, causing a knock-on effect that sent Pleascach into Curvy with consequent interference to Pamona and Wedding Vow.

Pleascach kept going and seemed to stay the mile and a half all right but Moore gathered Curvy (9/2) together, led a furlong out and won well. Pamona held on for third.

“It was a very messy race and they didn’t seem to go much of a gallop,” Wachman said. “But she finished well and won pretty snug. She doesn’t do much when she gets there.”

Credit

That may be so but Curvy, by Galileo, deserves enormous credit for the improvement that has taken her from handicaps at Navan, and a rating of 72, to the Gallinule and on to the most glittering stage of all.

She is unbeaten in four races this year and, intriguingly, the Irish Derby was mentioned.

“Winning the Gallinule gives her a free entry,” Wachman pointed out. “We’ll see what the owners (Tabor, Smith and Susan Magnier) want to do but there’s also the Irish Oaks.”

The trainer believes Legatissimo ‘just ran out of gas’ when caught by Qualify at Epsom and has earmarked the Pretty Polly at the Curragh for her.