Karl Burke's star filly shows trademark toughness to secure redemption at Leopardstown

Fallen Angel continued 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 at Leopardstown on Saturday.

The four-year-old daughter of Too Darn Hot, sent off as the 9-4 favourite, produced a display of trademark determination to overcome Aidan O'Brien's Exactly by half a length, with Atsila finishing third in the 11-runner field.

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, seeking to add to an impressive Irish record that includes victories in the Moyglare Stud Stakes and Irish 1,000 Guineas.

The victory came on the back of an impressive performance at Deauville last month, where she bounced back to the peak of her powers when landing the Prix Rothschild, when she pulled out all the stops to repel the reopposing January.

A Battle of Wills

The race developed into a thrilling contest as Exactly poked her nose between the pair, throwing down the gauntlet in the second-string white cap under Dylan Browne McMonagle. However, this challenge only served to bring out the best in Fallen Angel.

"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" to secure a decisive victory.

Trainer's Delight

A delighted Karl Burke was full of praise for his filly's fighting qualities. "She's so tough, isn't she? She's very honest and James gave her a great ride", the trainer commented after the race.

Burke revealed the tactical approach that has proven so successful: "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."

The trainer admitted he thought the race was lost when the Ballydoyle challenger appeared: "I thought we were beat a furlong out when Exactly came to us, but she stuck her head down", highlighting the filly's never-say-die attitude.

Future Plans

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 immediately cut to 4-1 from 8-1 by Paddy Power.

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

The victory represents Fallen Angel's fourth top-level success and continues her remarkable affinity for Irish racecourses, where she has now won three of her four Group 1 victories. For connections of Wathnan Racing's durable filly, Saturday's success provided the perfect redemption story and sets up an exciting autumn campaign.