Fallen Angel soars to Matron Stakes success

Fallen Angel made it back-to-back Group One victories with a battling performance to go one better than 12 months ago in the Coolmore America ‘Justify’ Matron Stakes at Leopardstown.

Second to Porta Fortuna last year, Karl Burke’s four-year-old was the 9-4 favourite to land the spoils time around on the back of a gutsy win over Aidan O’Brien’s January in the Prix Rothschild.

After James Doyle got the perfect tow into the race from Vera’s Secret, like in Deauville, it was a Ballydoyle rival who laid down a stern challenge to the Wathnan Racing-owned raider in the closing stages as Dylan Browne McMonagle and Exactly made Fallen Angel fight all the way to the line.

The daughter of Too Darn Hot’s tenacious attitude came firmly to the fore late in the day as she registered a half-length success over the O’Brien contender, with Donnacha O’Brien’s Atsila third.

“She’s so tough, very, very honest, and James gave her a great ride,” said Burke.

“It just took James a few rides to get to know her. You just can’t pull her around, you’ve just got to let her go.

“She should be staying a mile and a quarter really, but we’re probably better off being aggressive over a mile, I think. I’m absolutely delighted for everybody.

“I thought we were beat a furlong out when Exactly came to us and then I saw her get her head down when James got stuck into her.

“Whenever Danny (Tudhope) rode her as a two- and three-year-old, he always said she was waiting for a smack to tell her. She’s one of those who waits and waits but when she gets a smack, she always gives it to you.

“We felt that she needed the cheekpieces this time around. She got very lackadaisical in her work at home and she needed the run in the Lockinge first time out.

“I said to Richard Brown (Wathnan Racing adviser) that I’d work her in cheekpieces and see how she goes and she worked very well. You could tell they sharpened her up and they certainly work.”

Paddy Power make Fallen Angel 4-1 from 8s for the Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket on October 4 and Burke added: “She’ll probably go for the Sun Chariot if she’s OK and then we could take on the boys at Ascot on Champions Day.”

Burke was also on the scoresheet in the CMG Group Stakes when Convergent gained compensation for his German Derby near-miss by romping to victory.

The Fascinating Rock colt was beaten a short head when fancied for Classic glory at Hamburg in July, but there was never any doubt this time around as the 3-1 chance travelled powerfully throughout in the hands of Clifford Lee before drawing clear in the home straight.

“The horse is heavier and stronger than he was going to the German Derby. I think he’s just maturing into a very good horse,” said Burke.

“He always had the potential to put in a performance like that. I know it was a Group Three but I think it was a Group One performance.

“I know he’s only won a length in the end but I don’t think he was doing a lot in front, and I don’t think Cliff even gave him a slap.

“He won his Redcar maiden at the end of his two-year-old year. Because he’s by Fascinating Rock he was a band D, which is the lowest band in England.

“I said to PJ (Colville) that there is a lovely mile-and-a-quarter race to start him off (this season) at Redcar so that’s why he started there, to give him another bit of experience.

“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 One in Germany if we want to go that route.

“Next year is going to be his year. He’s still only learning to race.”