Attraction takes Matron prize
Attraction made all to regain the winning thread when landing the Coolmore Fusaichi Pegasus Matron Stakes at Leopardstown.
Mark Johnston’s filly, who won the English and Irish 1000 Guineas last year, was quickly into stride and the 100-30 second-favourite kept on well to beat the fast-finishing 11-4 market leader Chic by three-quarters of a length.
Virginia Waters, this year’s 1000 Guineas heroine, ran a much-improved race to take third.
Attraction had disappointed on her two starts this term, when running below par in Hong Kong and finishing fourth on rain-softened ground in the Hungerford Stakes.
But the front-running filly showed much more of her old zest, with Kevin Darley having her smartly away in the Group One contest before proving too good for her rivals.
Chic, winner of the Celebration Mile, was last turning for home under Christophe Soumillon and after running wide on the bend, she just failed to reel in the winner.
Johnston's wife, Deirdre, said: ``It is just brilliant. I came here today in the expectation that we wouldn't even be running, but when I walked the course my high heels were hardly going in at all.
“It is great to silence some of the critics – she was so gutsy and she really deserved it.
“We will look at the QEII and the Sun Chariot and there are a couple of races in America after the end of the British season that we will also consider. The plan was always to retire her to stud at the end of the year.”
