Sweet Gardenia has them beaten© Photo Healy Racing
Sweet Gardenia served up a 25/1 surprise in the Listed Coolmore Churchill Stakes in Tipperary.
She swept through on the inner to lead approaching final furlong, but looked to have plenty on her plate when odds-on-favourite Ontario improved to be almost on terms in the final 150 yards.
Robbie Colgan ’s mount really stuck her neck out well, though, and refused to yield the advantage. She took the honours by a length from the 5/6 runner-up.
Trainer John Murphy’s son George Murphy said: "She is a very smart filly but ran a small bit flat and we were disappointed with her at Leopardstown. She was a bit fat after it and we freshened her up afterwards and she was very good there.
"The Ballyhane race was also a nice race to win and we're delighted to win this Listed race and hopefully there will be plenty more to come with her. There are a couple of races she could run in later this year but she'll be a lovely filly for next year too."
Sweet Gardenia won the valuable Ballyhane consolation race at Naas in August at 50/1.
The Stewards requested a report from John Joseph Murphy, trainer, as to the apparent improvement in form of Sweet Gardenia (GB), placed first, as compared with its most recent run. George Murphy, authorised representative for the trainer stated that his charge found the ground at Leopardstown on the 12th of September much too quick for her and she did not let herself down on it. Having considered the evidence the Stewards noted the explanation given.
Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
