Ladies Church wins Sapphire Stakes under inspired Coen ride

Ben Coen needed to be at his brilliant best to get Ladies Church up right on the line to land the Group 2 Barberstown Castle Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh.

A beaten favourite in handicap company at Royal Ascot last time, the Johnny Murtagh trained filly was sent off one of the outsiders of this field at 12/1.

For much of the race, it all went to script, as the Colin Keane ridden favourite Mooneista travelled strongly behind the leaders. When Keane let out an inch of rein the daughter of Dandy Man strode into the lead and it looked all over.

However, Coen had other ideas, delivering Ladies Church with a perfectly timed challenge to get her head in front in the dying strides.

English raider Equilateral had looked a threat at the furlong pole but soon weakened and eventually finished back in third.

“Ben is a top class rider and gave her a peach of a ride,” said Murtagh.

“We fancied her strongly in Ascot but she probably could have done with one more run before that. She wasn't ready for that quick race.

“We knew coming here today that she's a filly that shows plenty of pace. We had a hood on her before because she's keen but the pace of the race was always going to help her settle today.

“Ben delivered her to perfection. In the sprints in Ireland sometimes they go slow, even in a sprint, and this one has bags of pace and needs pace on in front of her.

“When she relaxes she's got that turn of foot at the end. It didn't work in Ascot but today was always the next stepping stone, although I know it was a big step up.

“I saw her at 25/1 this morning and there were horses much shorter in the betting that she had beaten before.

“I thought she had a chance but it needed to work out like this and it worked out to perfection.

“She's a huge filly and what she did at two is probably a bonus. She won her maiden and a listed race.

“She was always going to be better at three. She's learning how to sprint and we're going to be brave with her now for the rest of the season.

“She's won a Group 2 so it's Group 1s all the way now.”

Paddy Powers cut Ladies Church from 20/1 to 12/1 for the King George Stakes

Additional reporting by Gary Carson