Coolmore America Justify Matron Stakes
Group 1, Leopardstown 13:40
€300,000 added,
3yo plus, fillies,
1m, Class 1   
Saturday 11th September 2021

FreeRacingTips

1 No Speak Alexander 25/1
2 Pearls Galore 7/1
3 Mother Earth 6/5F
13 ran Distances: nk, 1¼l, hd
Time: 1m 41.98s (slow by 2.48s)

No Speak Alexander became Haras de Bouquetot sire Shalaa’s first Group 1 winner after surviving a stewards’ inquiry and winning at 25-1.

The Jessica Harrington-trained filly crossed the line in front in a tight and a dramatic finish to the Group One over a mile. She then had to survive a stewards’ inquiry after things got very tight deep inside the final furlong.

Third in the Irish 1,000 Guineas in May, No Speak Alexander had benefited from a pipe-opener in the Group One Prix Rothschild at Deauville last month.

She took her revenge on the winner that day, Mother Earth, who had no luck in running on this occasion. 

Shale made the early running with Flirting Bridge second and No Speak Alexander and Pearls Galore close to the pace.

Shane Foley made his move on No Speak Alexander early in the straight and hit the front a furlong out, landing the spoils by a neck from Pearls Galore.

Mother Earth, the 6-5 favourite, was unable to get a clear passage through under Ryan Moore and had to settle for an eased-down third, a length and a quarter away.

Trainers Quotes

“It was her day in the sun today, everything was right, and she really came on from the last day,” said Harrington.

“She got no run in France at all, she got knocked over a furlong down. We trained her for this day and we rode her the same way as we did in the Guineas, up at the sharp end.

“She’s probably got a little bit stronger. She likes a bit of nice ground. We’ve no idea where we’re going now, this was the plan and we’ll enjoy the day.”

Coolmore America Justify Matron Stakes
Group 1, 1m , Race Value: €300,000
13 ran
Going: Good

POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (3)     No Speak Alexander 3 9-2 Mrs John Harrington Shane Foley 25/1
2 (7) nk Pearls Galore 4 9-7 P Twomey Declan McDonogh 7/1
3 (2) 1¼ Mother Earth 3 9-2 A P O'Brien Ryan Moore 6/5F
4 (9) hd Empress Josephine 3 9-2 A P O'Brien Seamie Heffernan 33/1
5 (10) shd Epona Plays 4 9-7 W McCreery W J Lee 16/1
6 (1) 1½ Champers Elysees 4 9-7 J P Murtagh Shane B Kelly 9/1
7 (4) ¾ Acanella 3 9-2 G M Lyons Colin Keane 10/1
8 (12) hd Belle Image 3 9-2 Ms Sheila Lavery Robbie Colgan 50/1
9 (8) ¾ Pretty Gorgeous 3 9-2 Joseph O'Brien Shane Crosse 9/1
10 (13) nse Dreamloper 4 9-7 Ed Walker Ronan Whelan 8/1
11 (5) 1 Shale 3 9-2 Donnacha O'Brien Gavin Ryan 16/1
12 (11) nk Flirting Bridge 3 9-2 Henry De Bromhead Chris Hayes 125/1
13 (6) 1 Friendly 3 9-2 A P O'Brien Michael Hussey 150/1

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