Snow Fairy (nearside) comes to claim Nathaniel in a Champion thriller© Photo Healy Racing
Red Mills will no doubt be thrilled with the race they got for their 2nd year sponsoring the Irish Champion Stakes as the remarkable mare Snow Fairy went a place better than last year to make it 7 Group 1s and give her jockey Frankie Dettori a 5th win in the race at Leopardstown. Daddy Long Legs set a scorching pace in this ten furlong affair and he teed it up beautifully for the principals as they straightened up.
Favourite, Nathaniel and William Buick were first to commit but from over a furlong out it was apparent that Dettori was getting there on the mare as St Nicholas Abbey couldn't quite pick up.
A length and a quarter and three parts of a length separated Snow Fairy, Nathaniel and St Nicholas Abbey at the line.
Snow Fairy (an 1,800 Euro buy-back as a yearling) became the first mare to do the business in this autumn highlight since Timarida in 1996.
Apparently she'll be covered by her owner Mrs Patino's stallion, Elusive Pimpernel next spring.
Her trainer Ed Dunlop said: "She's an unbelievable racehorse. I've nearly lost my voice. I'm relieved for the horse more than anything.
"For the owner and Frankie I'm so happy too. Frankie had never won on her and Ryan (Moore, out injured) had won six out of six on her.
"To do what she did is amazing and Frankie gave her a great ride. They went flat out.
"We were of the opinion that we'd take our time as she has an electric turn of foot.
"She's now won a Group 1 in Europe against colts. She's a horse of a lifetime and I've had two of those now (Ouija Board being the other).
"It's been a huge team effort from John Warwick, the vet, who operated on her (after a serious tendon injury) and Jessica Harrington who had her for two months.
"She's a better horse this year but I don't know why. All credit to the owner (Cristina Patino of Anamoine Limited). It would have been very easy to retire her but she was very keen to try the operation and it worked.
"I want to go to the Breeders Cup and she's in the Arc. We'll take one race at a time. We'll take her home and talk to Mrs Patino now.
"She's in the Champion but there is a certain horse called Frankel in that. If she's alright we wouldn't mind going there.
Dettori commented: "Reading the race this morning I knew Nathaniel would try and take the sting out of us.
"If I'd kicked too early I'd have set it up for Joseph on St Nicholas Abbey.
"When she got to the front she was looking to get over to the rail but it didn't matter at that stage as we'd already broken Nathaniel's heart.
"What a filly, I'm so pleased, she's up there with the very best.
"To get her back after the serious injury – it's unheard of – it doesn't happen very often.
"I could hear the crowd really get behind her. She's as popular as Kauto Star over jumps. She's only small but she comes with a big punch."
Updated Arc betting from Stan James - 11/4 Camelot, 5/1 Danedream, 8/1 Snow Fairy (from 14s), 9/1 Nathaniel (from 7s), 12/1 Orfevre, 14/1 St Nicholas Abbey.(GC & EM)
