Hydrangea blooms ahead of Winter

Aidan O'Brien landed the Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron Stakes at Leopardstown but not with the filly that most anticipated as Hydrangea caused a 20/1 shock when pipping hot favourite Winter

Hydrangea also beat Winter by a head in the 1,000 Guineas Trial here back in April but the pair have enjoyed much differing fortunes since then with dual classic winner Winter completing a four-timer in Group 1 races.

Ryan Moore took advantage of a nice gap between stablemates to send Winter to the front over a furlong out but Hydrangea responded gamely to Wayne Lordan's urgings to get up in the final strides.

A head again separated the pair at the line, with Persuasive three quarters of a length back in third.

Upset! Stablemate Hydrangea gets up to deny Winter in the Group 1 @coolmorestud Fastnet Rock Matron Stakes at @LeopardstownRC: pic.twitter.com/8IGeqNEZqz

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) September 9, 2017

O'Brien said, “I'm delighted for the filly and I'm delighted for Wayne. She is Winter's work partner all year, and maybe she turned around and said Hydrangea you can have this one today!

“She was the only one of the four fillies that had not won a Group 1. We felt that Winter was going to improve a bit from the run. She was carrying a little bit of a tummy (held up in her work at home with a stone bruise) but needed to run.

“The winner will stay further. She could go for the Prix de l'Opera.

“Winter is in the Arc, and the Opera is another option.”

Lordan said, “This filly has been running well all year and has only been beaten three or four lengths by the likes of Winter. She was freshened up after a break and I thought she’d be there or thereabouts.

“They joined me early enough and mine loves a battle as you seen in the last 50 yards. Winter went a length clear but in the last 50 yards I felt she was coming back and mine was going forward. As everyone knows in horseracing they all have their day and today was her day.

“Winter is a very good filly and we saw in the paper that she’s going to improve a lot from today. She probably will but it’s good for my filly to get her head in front today.

“It’s a huge weekend and it’s growing every year. Even to ride in one is a great help but when you win one it’s special."