Statuette makes it two from two in Airlie

The well bred Statuette maintained her unbeaten record with a workmanlike success in the Group 2 Airlie Stud Stakes at the Curragh.

A daughter of Justify, out of dual Group 1 winner Immortal Verse, the Aidan O'Brien trained juvenile had created a huge impression on her racecourse debut at Navan last month.

Having missed Royal Ascot, she was sent off a short priced favourite here but arguably had to work harder than expected. Matilda Picotte took the field along early and was challenged by Badb over a furlong out. At this point, Ryan Moore was a little lower in the saddle but he was merely pushing along, as his mount responded to his urgings to quicken up nicely.

With nothing else coming from off the pace, it was perhaps a better performance than at first glance.

“She's a very big filly and we were only training her three quarters ready because we had our eye on the last part of the season,” said O'Brien.

“With that type of filly if you train them too hard you wouldn't have her at the end of the season when you want her.

“She's 16 2 ½, for a two-year-old filly. We were delighted, we were a little bit worried when the ground got soft that she could have gotten very tired but obviously just her class got her through.

“She travelled lovely and Ryan nursed her, she won lovely in the end and we were very happy.

“She has a beautiful mind, great stride and an unbelievable physique. We think the Justifys are something to look forward to.

“She's a sister to Tenebrism but she'd carry her on her back as she's a massive big powerful filly this one.

“She's probably not as precious as normal for a filly running at this time of year but she has so much class she was able to run and do it rather than us making her do it.

“When she was able to do it we didn't like stopping her but at the same time we weren't chasing her in any way at home.”

When asked if she could be a Guineas filly he added:- “We think she is. She's a filly with a lot of class and you'd imagine she'd have no problem getting a mile.

“The Moyglare, the Cheveley Park, all those races are there for her. Obviously we have the filly that won at Ascot (Meditate) as well. The lads will probably keep them apart.” Additional reporting by Gary Carson