In-form trainer John Oxx looked to have a strong hand in the Listed Listowel Stakes with three of the 13 runners and so it proved as What A Charm put in a brave performance to win at 12/1.
Ben Curtis sent her into an early lead and she repelled all comers to score by four-and-a-quarter lengths from Celtic Soprano (25/1). Freedom completed the placings at 6/1 a further neck away.
John Oxx stressed the importance of today’s soft to heavy ground. He said: “I’m delighted with her. The ground is very testing, sticky and holding, but of the three I ran she was the only one I knew for sure would go on the ground.
“I wasn’t sure if she was 100 per cent fit on her first run back. She is a beautiful, big, strong, rangy filly and the only time she got her ground last year was when she won the November handicap.
“She’s not the same filly on ground better than soft. The original objective was for her to have one or two runs with me and go back to Arthur Moore.
“She might go to the Finale Stakes at the Curragh at the end of October.”
Oxx’s Swampfire was sent off the 7/2 favourite. She finished fifth, a place in front of his final runner Cape Of Good Grace (9/2 from 7/1 in the morning).
Michael Graham
