bet365 Fillies' Mile |
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| Fillies Group 1, Newmarket 15:35 £567,500 added, 2yo only, 1m, Class 1  |
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| Friday 13th October 2017 | |
1 Laurens 10/1
2 September 9/2
3 Magic Lily 8/1
11 ran NR: Happily Distances: nse, ¾l, 3l
Time: 1m 36.15s (slow by 1.15s)
Laurens held off September in a thrilling photo-finish
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Having won the May Hill Stakes at Doncaster last month, Karl Burke's Laurens was sent off at 10-1 stepped up the highest level and raced on the speed throughout.With the rail to help, PJ McDonald kicked for home inside the final two furlongs and after shaking off stablemate Ellthea and Magic Lily, looked set to win decisively.
However, September was travelling strongly in behind and once the gap came she fairly flew home to virtually join Laurens on the line.
After a nervous wait, the judge confirmed Laurens had held on by a nose, denying September's trainer Aidan O'Brien his 24th Group One success of the season.
Magic Lily was not far away in third, with O'Brien-trained 15-8 favourite Magical fourth.
McDonald, who rode the winner of the Scottish Grand National during his days as a National Hunt jockey, was claiming his first ever Group One success on the Flat.
He told ITV Racing: "I honestly can't believe it. I'm 35 years of age now and the relief when that number got called out was amazing. If I never do anything else in my career, I've ridden a Group One winner.
"I didn't have a clue whether we'd won. I was praying we had it, but I didn't know.
"All the credit goes to Lucy (Burke, trainer's daughter). She rides this filly every day and has done since she came in.
"It's a massive team effort, everyone has played their part.
"It's brilliant."
bet365 Fillies' Mile (Fillies' Group 1)
£567,500 added, 2yo only, 1m, Class 1
11 ran
Going: Good
| Pos | Dr | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | (10) | Laurens (FR) 10/1 | P McDonald 9-0 |
K R Burke | 2 | |
| 2nd | (7) | nse | September (IRE) 9/2 | J A Heffernan 9-0 |
A P O'Brien | 2 |
| 3rd | (12) | ¾ | Magic Lily 8/1 | W Buick 9-0 |
C Appleby | 2 |
| 4th | (2) | 3 | Magical (IRE) 15/8f | R L Moore 9-0 |
A P O'Brien | 2 |
| 5th | (8) | ¾ | Ellthea (IRE) 20/1 | C O'Donoghue 9-0 |
K R Burke | 2 |
| 6th | (9) | 1¾ | Lubinka (IRE) 150/1 | Jack Mitchell 9-0 |
P W Chapple-Hyam | 2 |
| 7th | (11) | 1½ | Musical Art (IRE) 33/1 | Jim Crowley 9-0 |
P F I Cole | 2 |
| 8th | (3) | 1 | Efaadah (IRE) 11/2 | Aurelien Lemaitre 9-0 |
F Head | 2 |
| 9th | (6) | 2¼ | Nyaleti (IRE) 8/1 | James Doyle 9-0 |
M Johnston | 2 |
| 10th | (1) | 4½ | Muirin (IRE) 20/1 | D P McDonogh 9-0 |
E Lynam | 2 |
| 11th | (5) | 12 | Quivery (USA) 50/1 | L Dettori 9-0 |
J Noseda | 2 |
| NR | (4) | Happily (IRE) | R L Moore 9-0 |
A P O'Brien | 2 |
