Racecards
17:35 Leopardstown (IRE)
Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron Stakes (Group 1) (Class 1)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 1m
- Going: Good (Good to Yielding in places)
- Surface: Turf
- €350,000 added
- Winner: €206,500
- 2nd: €66,500
- 3rd: €31,500
- 4th: €14,000
- Form 411112
- Age 4
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer A Slattery
- Jockey D P McDonogh
led, pushed along and 2 lengths clear entering straight, ridden and headed over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
- Form 17-2105
- Age 4
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 109
- Trainer W McCreery
- Jockey W Buick
tracked leader, 2nd halfway, pushed along and no impression in 3rd entering straight, soon slightly hampered and dropped to rear, no extra, eased final furlong
- Form 337318
- Age 3
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer A P O'Brien
- Jockey R L Moore
held up in rear, switched right under 2f out, ridden and quickened well on outer to lead 150 yards out, stayed on well
- Form 133-313
- Age 3
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 106
- Trainer H Palmer
- Jockey P J Smullen
tracked leaders, 4th halfway, pushed along entering straight, ridden in 5th 1f out and no impression inside final furlong
- Form 3-11916
- Age 3
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer A Keatley
- Jockey C Soumillon
tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, travelled well in 2nd entering straight, ridden over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
- Form 29-2134
- Age 3
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 109
- Trainer M O'Callaghan
- Jockey C T Keane
towards rear, 6th on outer halfway, ridden under 2f out and no impression in 7th over 1f out, under pressure and kept on inside final furlong
- Form 1-1111
- Age 3
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer J & T Gosden
- Jockey L Dettori
tracked leaders, 5th halfway, 3rd 2f out, pushed along and progress to lead over 1f out, ridden and headed 150 yards out, no impression on winner
- Form 13-1311
- Age 3
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 116
- Trainer J C Rouget
- Jockey Gregory Benoist
dwelt, rear of mid-division, 7th halfway, pushed along under 2f out and 6th 1f out, progress between horses to go 3rd 100 yards out, kept on one pace
Verdict
High-class French filly QEMAH looks the one to beat in this. She followed up victory in the Coronation Stakes at Ascot with a convincing win in the Prix Rothschild at Deauville and can already count Falmouth winner Alice Springs and Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Jet Setting among her victims. Now Or Never is another with something to find with Jean-Claude Rouget’s filly while Devonshire, Hawksmoor and Creggs Pipes look up against it in this company. Alice Springs is certainly better than she showed at Deauville last time but the unbeaten Persuasive may prove a bigger threat competing at the highest level for the first time having won a Group 3 at Sandown on her latest outing.
Formwatch
Creggs Pipes (IRE) 8-15fav (9-5) Broke well to lead, soon joined, led after 1/2f, 2 lengths clear halfway, driven over 2f out, ridden and headed 1 1/2f out, no impression final 100 yards, kept on same pace, 2nd of 4, 3 1/2l behind Tanaza (9-0) at Tipperary 7f Grp 3 fll stks (1) sft in Aug.
Devonshire (IRE) 8-1 (9-12) Settled 4th, driven in 3rd 3f out, ridden 1 1/2f out, dropped to 4th 1f out, soon 5th, kept on same pace, 5th of 12, 2 1/4l behind Bocca Baciata (9-9) at Curragh 1m 1f Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Jul.
Alice Springs (IRE) (8-9) 8th of 11, 10 3/4l behind Qemah (8-9) at Deauville 1m Grp 1 stks gd in Jul.
Hawksmoor (IRE) 11-2 (9-3) Prominent, led after 1f, under pressure and headed over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, almost on terms under 1f out, kept on, dropped to 3rd close home, 3rd of 12, 1/2l behind Bocca Baciata (9-9) at Curragh 1m 1f Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Jul.
Jet Setting (IRE) 9-4fav (9-0) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, chased leader until approaching final furlong, soon ridden, weakened final 100 yards, 6th of 13, 4 1/4l behind Qemah (9-0) at Ascot 1m Grp 1 fll stks (1) gs in Jun.
Now Or Never (IRE) 16-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, on outside, challenged 2f out, 2nd inside final 2f, led and hung badly right over 1f out, soon ridden, headed inside final furlong, no extra and lost two places towards finish, 4th of 13, 2 1/2l behind Qemah (9-0) at Ascot 1m Grp 1 fll stks (1) gs in Jun.
Persuasive (IRE) 6-4fav (8-9) Held up in mid-division, steady headway over 2f out, challenged and edged right over 1f out, led entering final furlong, soon quickened clear, stayed on strongly, won at Sandown 1m Grp 3 fll stks (1) gs in Aug beating Blond Me (9-1) by 3l, 12 ran.
Qemah (IRE) (8-9) won at Deauville 1m Grp 1 stks gd in Jul beating Volta (8-9) by 1 1/4l, 11 ran.