Colm O'Donoghue: she's a super filly and showed that today. She was brilliant
Colm O'Donoghue, on board for Alpha Centauri's scintillating Coronation Stakes triumph, describes what the win means to him
Alpha Centauri is a super filly and she showed that today. It was a brilliant performance and it was a joy to be part of it.
They went very fast in the Irish 1,000 Guineas and it was the same story today. She showed her class by quickening clear so impressively to beat some good fillies by six lengths and in a course-record time too.
We knew she had come out of the Irish Guineas really well. She did a tremendous piece of work on the Old Vic gallop at the Curragh before she travelled over and we knew she had come forward a lot.
She's always been a very big filly and she has a huge stride. One of her strides is equal to two strides by most other fillies. She's very powerful and has a brilliant turn of foot when you ask her to produce it.
Watch Alpha Centauri's Coronation Stakes win
This win and the Irish Guineas win are very important for me. Being involved in her preparation is part of it and Jessica [Harrington] having the confidence to let me ride on the track means a lot.
I rode big-race winners, including an Irish Derby and other Group 1 races, during my time with Aidan [O'Brien] and was very grateful for those opportunities, and it's been fantastic linking up with the Harrington team and enjoying days like the Irish Guineas last month and today.
I can't say Alpha Centauri surprised me today. We were confident of a big run and, boy, did she deliver in style. She is simply very, very good.
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Published on 22 June 2018inReports
Last updated 19:12, 22 June 2018
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