Trained by Paddy Twomey, Team Valor's La Petite Coco (9/1) stayed on strongest to deny 11/4 favourite My Astra by half a length and give her trainer a first Group 1 sucess in the Alwasmiyah Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh.
My Astra held second from the winner's stablemate Rosscarbery but the latter was disqualifed for weighing in 5lb light.
A four-year-old daughter of Ruler Of The World, La Petite Coco had not been seen the latter run in September, and therefore had both top-calibre opposition and a 287-day break to overcome at the Curragh.
Let go at 9/1 with little punters' confidence, the winner tracked the clear leading pair early with the in-form Billy Lee.
In front a furlong and a half out, she pulled out extra to deny the William Haggas' My Astra on the softening ground.
Twomey was denied a dream result as Rosscarbery was disqualified and the fourth-placed Thunder Kiss was promoted to third.
?? Comeback queen! ??
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) June 26, 2022
La Petite Coco (9-1) defies a 287-day absence, and weak market vibes, to brilliantly win the @Alwasmiyahstud Pretty Polly Stakes @curraghrace @paddytwomey | @wjlee24786 | @TeamValor pic.twitter.com/ECuAE7nprD
Twomey revealed he had been confident beforehand.
“To be honest I couldn’t see her being beaten coming here,” said Twomey.
“The level she showed last year to beat Love (in the Blandford) and the winner of this race (Thundering Nights), I think she’s top class.
“We decided, Barry (Irwin, of owners Team Valor) and I, that we’d start her campaign in the middle of the year with a view to the second half. She didn’t have a run but I don’t think it matters to her.
"I gave her an Arc entry and I don't think it was outrageous giving that to her. I'd say Yorkshire Oaks and the Prix Vermeille would be options, the Breeders' Cup might suit her too."
On the weigh-in mix up, Niall Cronin, communications manager for the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board, said: “Wayne Lordan weighed out at 138.1 and weighed back in at 133.5. As a result there was an inquiry into the weighing-in procedures of the third-placed horse.
“As per Rule 231, Section 1, the horse had to be disqualified.
The stewards have referred the matter on for further investigation. Mr Twomey is aware of that.”
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