Empress appreciates fast ground Royal Empress brought a high level of form into the Irish Field Maiden, and the David Wachman-trained filly duly obliged in this six-furlong event as the 2/1 joint market leader. Placed over course and distance last September in the Group 3 Round Tower Stakes, the daughter of Holy Roman Emperor boasts an official rating in the mid-90’s and she proved too strong here for her ten rivals. Illustrate (9/1) set the pace under Joseph O’Brien before the winner struck the front over a furlong out, and she kept on well for Wayne Lordan to beat that rival by two and a quarter lengths. The other 2/1 joint favourite Wexford Opera was just a short-head further adrift in third, while newcomer Tabaary made nice late headway in fourth. Wachman said, “She wanted the good ground and it’s finally come. She was Group placed last year so her job is nearly done. We will look at some Stakes races for her.” The Cashel trainer confirmed that both Duntle (Duke Of Cambridge) and Hint Of A Tint (Sandringham) will represent him at Royal Ascot, while Galileo Rock has come out of the Investec Derby well. “He’s come out of Epsom well although we have done very little with him since. We will see how the Irish Derby looks closer to the time, and he has other options,” said Wachman.
