Estrange shows her quality to power to Pretty Polly success

Estrange took centre stage at the Curragh on the Saturday of Irish Derby weekend, producing a career defining display to land the Group 1 Paddy Power Pretty Polly Stakes and finally convert long threatened potential into top-level success.

Ridden with patience by Danny Tudhope, the five year old was anchored towards the rear early on before being produced wide turning for home. Travelling powerfully, she swept into contention inside the final two furlongs and quickly asserted, pulling clear to beat One Look by a length and a half.

Red Letter kept on for third, while the strongly fancied Oaks heroine Thundering On could only finish fourth after briefly threatening.

It was a performance that combined composure and a telling turn of foot — and one that left Tudhope in no doubt about the filly’s quality.

Speaking afterwards, jockey Danny Tudhhope said: “She’s just a dream to ride as a jockey and does everything you ask her to do. She felt good, she picked up well when I asked her and put the race to bed. She travelled into the race nicely and picked up even better. She’s got a lot of speed.” For trainer David O’Meara, it marked a welcome return to the sport’s top table and a first Group 1 success in several seasons. The handler suggested that a drop back in trip had played a key role in unlocking improvement.

“She is a wonderful filly… it looked like it was pretty smooth sailing for Danny. Dropping back in trip has definitely not been a negative — it could have been the making of her. Maybe we’ve been running her over the wrong trip.

“We’d love to go for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. It was important that she got the Group 1 win under her belt, and she’s done it in good style.” Earlier on the card, Aidan O’Brien unveiled another exciting prospect as Sun Goddess justified cramped odds in the Group 2 Airlie Stud Stakes. The juvenile filly travelled smoothly throughout before quickening clear, further strengthening Ballydoyle’s already formidable hand in the two year old ranks, making amends for defeat at Royal Ascot.

The Group 3 Anglesey Stakes provided one of the more eye catching supporting results, with Ballinea Star springing a 16/1 surprise to give trainer Robson De Aguiar a notable stakes breakthrough, edging out stablemate Immortal Guard in a tight finish.

In the valuable Summer Fillies Handicap, Meriden continued a rapid rise through the ranks, landing the spoils with authority to complete a four timer for Denis Hogan and establish herself as a filly going places through the remainder of the campaign.

The opening maiden offered a familiar storyline as Aidan O’Brien dominated proceedings, with Giant Sequoia leading home a stable 1 2 3 and underlining the depth of talent at Ballydoyle.

Later on the card, Fixation struck for Johnny Murtagh with a polished display, while Midnight Dusk captured the seventh race before Suspicious Mindz brought the curtain down on the meeting with victory in the finale for Kildare trainer Jessica Harrington.

Yet despite a strong supporting cast, the day ultimately belonged to Estrange — her authoritative success in the Pretty Polly not just a breakthrough, but a statement, and one that could yet propel her towards even greater targets as the season unfolds.