HYDRANGEA lowered the colours of her stablemate Winter to spring a surprise in the Group 1 Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron Stakes at Leopardstown.

Winter was denied a fifth successive top-level triumph by Hydrangea, who had finished behind her in the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood. However, trainer Aidan O'Brien had said Winter had an interrupted preparation and that might have made the difference in a tight finish.