'She has a heart of gold' - Pearls Galore finds old sparkle to bag first Group 1

Saturday: Matron Stakes, Leopardstown

It was billed as the perfect stage for Homeless Songs to debut the first single of a blockbuster autumn campaign, but Pearls Galore – joint-oldest runner in the line-up – delivered her sweetest tune yet to cause a 16-1 upset.

She roared back to life for the unstoppable combination of Paddy Twomey and Billy Lee.

It was in this race 12 months ago that the "hard-as-nails" five-year-old was last in full voice, narrowly denied by No Speak Alexander, but her form in 2022 couldn't have been described as an improvement despite running respectably.

However, Twomey showed just why he is regarded as one of the game's brightest training forces in extracting a career-best performance from the mare in what is likely to be one of her final races before retirement.

The application of cheekpieces and an exquisitely judged front-running ride from Lee meant there was no catching the Invincible Spirit mare, who reversed the form of her Prix Rothschild fifth with Leopardstown runner-up Saffron Beach and third-placed Tenebrism.

"If ever a mare deserved a Group 1, it's her," said Lee, who was recording the fourth top-level win of his career in the race in which he registered his first on Fiesolana in 2014.

Pearls Galore: winner of the Matron Stakes under an excellent ride from Billy LeeCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"She has a heart of gold and is as tough as nails. The last couple of times she's been a little bit disappointing. Even when she won the Group 2 Lanwades Stud Stakes she was a bit disappointing with me as I thought she'd win better, but today she was on form."

Lee added: "The cheekpieces were a little help. She loves this course. I got a little breather before the turn-in and kicked again. She's a star. The owners [Haras De Saint Pair] have been very patient and got their just desserts."

Kept in training as a five-year-old with the sole purpose of winning at the highest level, Pearls Galore's victory provided Twomey with immense satisfaction.

"The aim was to win a Group 1 this year and now she's done it," he said. "She's five and was only doing what she had to do, just going through the motions, so we put the cheekpieces on her.

She's got a lot of ability and can go at a high pace before burning off horses – that's her true running."

Billy Lee on Pearls Galore: 'She's a star. The owners have been very patient and got their just desserts'Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Homeless Songs was 5-4 favourite to win on her first start since a sizzling Irish 1,000 Guineas win 111 days earlier and travelled enthusiastically, but her lack of a recent run appeared to tell in the closing stages.

Reflecting on her fourth-placed effort, Dermot Weld said: "I'm happy with the run. I know people may be disappointed that she didn't win, but you don't win all Group 1s.

"She's had a long break during the summer and ran a solid race. She just got tired in the last furlong. We'll now look at the Prix de la Foret."

Hollie Doyle was pleased with the effort of runner-up Saffron Beach but felt the rain-softened ground dented her mount's chances.

"She ran a blinder," said Doyle. "She goes on the [softer] ground but possibly isn't as effective on it. I thought I had the winner covered but she just struggled to pull that extra gear out."

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