Aggie produces Powerful finish to land Listed prize

Powerful Aggie (4/1) came from last to first to win His Majesty's Plate under Declan McDonogh.

Switched to the outer with over two furlongs to race, the Protectionist mare picked up well to lead over a furlong out and was ridden out to beat Taipan by a length and a half.

Joseph O'Brien, amongst the winners at Royal Ascot earlier today with Okita Soushi, trains the five-year-old for Power Thoroughbreds PTY Limited.

Three times a winner in handicap company, the five-year-old had been placed in the last two renewals of the Naas November Handicap over this trip of two miles.

McDonogh said: "She was in very good form last year in big handicaps.

"There was no hiding place today, it was a good gallop. I was a bit tardy out of the gates and I just wanted to get in. I had cover all the way but when I took her out of the cover two down, she picked up really well.

"I just had to run for a furlong and a-half and it was a good performance.

"She just needed the run that day (in Navan), she looked amazing today and had come on really well in the last six weeks I think.

"She deserved that after some really good handicap efforts. It is great to get a Listed winner for the page.

"We thought we might nick a bit of black-type and maybe Taipan might be better than us on the day but he wasn't and she was really good and quickened, she surprised me how well she quickened."

Quotes from Michael Graham