Coolmore America Justify

Matron Stakes (Group 1)

TRAINER Karl Burke was the real story of Irish Champions Festival. The Yorkshireman saddled two winners at Leopardstown on Saturday and his only other runner on the card, Royal Champion, finished a fine third in the feature race.

He had another winner at the Curragh on Sunday, plus two third placings in Group 1 races.

Highlight of the Burke bonanza was the success of Fallen Angel in the Group 1 Coolmore America Justify Matron Stakes. Winner of the Moyglare Stud Stakes in 2023 and the Irish 1000 Guineas last year, the four-year-old filly by Too Darn Hot has benefited from the application of cheekpieces this season, winning the Prix Rothschild at Deauville last month before following up at Leopardstown in a race in which she finished second a year ago.

Now owned by Wathnan Racing, Fallen Angel was partnered at Leopardstown by James Doyle, who had her prominent throughout and holding a narrow lead early in the straight.

There were challengers on all sides, however, and she battled well to hold off Exactly (Aidan O’Brien/Dylan Browne McMonagle) by half a length. Atsila (25/1) ran a stormer for Donnacha O’Brien and Gavin Ryan to be third, a further three-quarters of a length back.

“She’s so tough, isn’t she?” said Burke, who was repeating his triumph in this race with Laurens seven years ago.

“(She’s) very, very honest. James gave her a great ride. It just took a few rides to get to know her. You can’t pull her around, you’ve got to let her go. She should be staying a mile and a quarter really, but you’re probably better off being aggressive over a mile.

“I thought we were beat a furlong out when Exactly came to us. Then I saw her get her head down and James get stuck into her… she waits and, when she gets a smack, she always gives it to you.

“We felt she needed cheekpieces this time around. She got very lackadaisical in her work at home. She’ll go probably for the Sun Chariot now before taking on the boys at Ascot.”

Impressive Convergent

Half an hour earlier, Convergent (3/1) got Burke on the scoresheet in comprehensive fashion, when landing the Group 3 CMG Group Stakes over 12 furlongs by a length and a half.

A three-year-old colt by Fascinating Rock, Convergent is owned and was bred by Newtown Anner Stud. He had been off the track since losing out by a short head in the German Derby in July, but was a well-fancied 3/1 shot here, up against a talented field headed by the eight-year-old Al Aasy (William Haggas/Danny Tudhope), who went off the 5/4 favourite.

The market leader put in one of his lesser efforts, however, as Convergent bounded clear to defeat Jim Bolger’s Fleetfoot (33/1) comfortably under jockey Clifford Lee.

“The horse is heavier and stronger than he was going to the German Derby (when he was just denied on the line). I think he’s just maturing into a very good horse,” Burke opined.

“He always had the potential to put in a performance like that. I know it was a Group 3, but I think it was a Group 1 performance. I don’t think he was doing a lot in front, and I don’t think Cliff even gave him a slap.

“We knew at the end of last year that we had a very good horse, it was just a matter of how far we could take him.

“I was very impressed with that performance. He’s got an entry in a Group 1 in Germany if we want to go that route. Next year is going to be his year. He’s still only learning to race.

“The race plan went perfectly today. I told him to try and get cover, and Cliff gave him an absolute peach of a ride. He is a little bit exuberant. They went steady in Germany, and he was strong until two out there. He’s learning, he came back to Cliff nicely there in the back straight.”