Chrysanthemum holds off Twirl for Group win
Report: Curragh, Sunday
Lodge Park Stud EBF Park Express Stakes (Group 3) 1m, 3yo+, fillies & mares
CHRYSANTHEMUM ran out a comfortable winner at the Curragh for trainer David Wachman and rider Wayne Lordan, holding off the challenge of Aidan O'Brien's 7-4 favourite Twirl for a one-and-a-half length victory.
The four-year-old winner was coming back to 1m after running two of her three races last season over 1m2f, finishing with a below-par effort in the Blandford Stakes.
She seemed to enjoy the trip, or perhaps it was the first-time blinkers or the warmth of spring, as she travelled strongly throughout under Lordan.
Held in second behind Twirl's stablemate Homecoming Queen, Chrysanthemum, an 8-1 chance, joined and readily went past the leader between the one and two furlong posts.
Ryan Moore sent Twirl after the Wachman horse but the challenge flagged half a furlong from home, granting Lordan and Chrysanthemum a measure of coziness in the final yards.
Wachman said: "She likes an ease in the ground and a horse who was third in a Group 1 last year was entitled to win that. She will appreciate going further and the blinkers helped. We'll look at the Mooresbridge Stakes."
Twirl, a three-year-old sister of Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Misty For Me, also got a vote of confidence from her trainer. "She ran a lovely race - I was delighted with the run," said O'Brien.
The Galileo filly, who was chased home by third-placed Princess Sinead, is a general 20-1 chance for the Qipco 1,000 Guineas and as short as 14-1 for the Investec Oaks.
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