Laurens to stick with the mile

Horse Racing
Townend talks up Benie display

Karl Burke says Laurens will be kept going over a mile after shining in Saturday’s Matron Stakes triumph at Leopardstown.

The three-year-old was too good for the field as she raced home three-quarters-of-a-length clear of Alpha Centauri, who was retired after the race due to an injured fetlock.


Alpha Centauri had previously won four Group Ones over the summer but after falling short when stepping up in trip for the Yorkshire Oaks, Laurens had too much when dropping back to a mile.


Burke says the four-time Group One winner is now likely to stay over a mile, meaning an outing in the Sun Chariot Stakes is set to be favoured over a trip to France for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.


‘She’s come out of the race fine,’ the Leyburn handler said.

‘We haven’t had chance to have a chat, her two options are the Sun Chariot or to go back to France, but I would think going by what John said the Sun Chariot is going to be the preferred option.


‘She doesn’t quicken, she lengthens and that is why we all thought she’d stay further.


‘I still think she probably wasn’t 100 per cent on the day in the Yorkshire Oaks, she was beaten a long way out, but that is behind us now and we’ll look forwards to her next race.’

Follow us on Twitter racing365dotcom and like our Facebook page.
Horse Racing

Latest