Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes (Sponsored By Qipco)
Group 2, Newmarket 15:45 £80,000 added, 2yo Fillies only, 6f, Class 1
Friday 8th July 2016

1 Roly Poly 6/1
2 Magical Fire 33/1
3 Nations Alexander 16/1
10 ran Distances: ½l, hd, shd
TIME 1m 10.72s (slow by 0.32s)

Roly Poly wins the Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes for Ryan Moore and Aidan O'Brien

Roly Poly

Trainer Aidan O'Brien was landing the six-furlong contest, formerly known as the Cherry Hinton, for the first time since his only previous winner - You'resothrilling in 2007 - and the daughter of War Front was made to pull out all the stop to prevail in a tight finish.

Mark Johnston's Kilmah set the pace as was tackled by the eventual winner on her inside, while market leader Bletchley appeared to be travelling menacingly just in behind the leaders.

Meanwhile Magical Fire and Nations Alexander were making their challenge towards the far rail and that pair were the ones to threaten Roly Poly close home, once Moore's mount had mastered Kilmah and Bletchley had weakened right out of contention.

The 6/1 shot, successful in a Group Three at the Curragh less than a fortnight ago after failing to figure in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot, knuckled down inside the final furlong to just get the better of the arguement, with Magical Fire beaten half a length into second at 33/1 and Nations Alexander having to settle for third at 16/1.

The winning jockey said: "A lot of these horses have had to run in soft ground, (but) she had her ground and I'm delighted with her.

"It was too soft for her at Ascot and it was a fast race. She was very brave at the Curragh and she's backed up in under two weeks. She's very tough and genuine and has plenty of pace.

"I'm sure she'd get a bit further, but six (furlongs) wasn't a problem."

Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes
(Formerly The Cherry Hinton Stakes) (Fillies' Group 2)
£80,000 added, 2yo only, 6f, Class 1
10 ran
Going: Good to Firm