'She's so tough' - Fallen Angel not for passing again as Burke filly secures fourth top-level success in Matron Stakes

Fallen Angel continues to flourish on Irish soil as Karl Burke's star filly made another productive journey across the Irish Sea to land her fourth Group 1 with a remarkably plucky display in the Coolmore America Justify Matron Stakes under James Doyle.

While Fallen Angel was one of three British-trained runners in the 11-strong field, it was still something of a home game for the daughter of Too Darn Hot on her fourth trip to Ireland. She gained her third win here, having taken the Moyglare Stud Stakes this weekend two years ago before producing a huge performance when blasting clear in the Irish 1,000 Guineas last season.

Having finished runner-up to the prolific Porta Fortuna in this race 12 months ago, she went off a strongly fancied 9-4 favourite to go one better this time, having bounced back to the peak of her powers at Deauville last month when landing the Prix Rothschild, when she pulled out all the stops to repel the reopposing January.

That marvellous resolution, which is fast becoming a hallmark of her four-year-old campaign, came to the fore again as a familiar-looking foe in the Derrick Smith colours appeared on her inside at the two pole, when she was gradually reeling in the front-running Vera's Secret.

Fallen Angel with happy connections after landing a fourth Group 1 successCredit: Patrick McCann

However, with January toiling in midfield, it was her stablemate Exactly who was throwing down the gauntlet this time in the second-string white cap under Dylan Browne McMonagle, but that only proved to egg the winner on.

While Fallen Angel briefly seemed to be going up and down on the one spot in her pursuit of the leader, she picked up again when Exactly poked her nose between the pair. It seemed like she was only waiting to be asked, wrestling back the advantage instantaneously and running out a decisive winner by half a length from the Ballydoyle challenger, with Donnacha O'Brien's Atsila in third.

"She's so tough, isn't she?" grinned Burke. "She's very honest and James gave her a great ride. It just took a few rides to get to know her – you just can't pull her around and you've got to let her go. 

"She should be staying a mile and a quarter but we're probably better off being aggressive over a mile."

He added: "I thought we were beat a furlong out when Exactly came to us, but she stuck her head down. Whenever Danny [Tudhope] rode her as a two- and three-year-old, he always said she's waiting for a smack. She's one of those who just waits and waits and when she gets a smack then she always gives it to you."

Wathnan Racing's durable filly used to dish out some serious demolition jobs earlier in her career, but seems to be getting more prudent in her margins of victory these days, only winning as instructed.

Fallen Angel won't have the benefit of her beloved Ireland next time, as a tilt at a first British Group 1 is now on the cards, with Burke looking forward to the Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket, for which she was cut into 4-1 (from 8-1) by Paddy Power.

"Maybe we should leave her here!" said Burke. "She'll probably go for the Sun Chariot and then we could take on the boys on Champions Day at Ascot."

BetMGM Sun Chariot Stakes (Newmarket, October 4)
BetMGM: 4 Fallen Angel, 9-2 Cinderella's Dream, January, 6 Tamfana, 9 Lady Of Spain, 12 bar.

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