Royal Ascot: Fairy Godmother strikes late in Albany

Fairy Godmother overcame adversity to get favourite backers off to a flying start on day four of Royal Ascot, lunging late to secure victory in the Albany Stakes.

Aidan O’Brien’s filly was a 15-8 shot off the back of a Group Three victory at Naas last month, but little went right for her during the six-furlong contest.

After initially being settled towards the rear, the daughter of Night Of Thunder began to pull fiercely for her head shortly after halfway and was soon stuck behind a wall of horses.

But it is testament to Fairy Godmother’s latent talent that after being switched across to the stands’ rail, she fairly motored home in the hands of Ryan Moore to get up and beat Simmering by three-quarters of a length. The winner’s front-running stablemate Heavens Gate was a neck further back in third.

“I gave her an impossible task and she got me out of a hole,” said Moore.

“It’s incredible she was able to win from that position so it’s all credit to her. She’s a very good filly.
“Down at the start she looked different class, she suggested that before she ran, and when she won last time. Today, that was a big performance.”

Inisherin produced a dominant display to stamp his class on the Commonwealth Cup.

Sixth over a mile in the 2000 Guineas, the Shamardal colt successfully dropped back to six furlongs in last month’s Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock, prompting connections to supplement him for this Group One contest at a cost of £46,000.

With fellow Sheikh Mohammed Obaid-owned contender Elite Status a significant non-runner, Inisherin was the 9-4 favourite in the hands of Tom Eaves and his supporters will have had few concerns.

Kept out of trouble down the the middle of the track, Kevin Ryan’s speedster was travelling much the best entering the final two furlongs and found plenty once asked to extend to score by two and a quarter lengths from Lake Forest.