Attraction Bags Matron

Attraction redeemed herself in style with a convincing all-the-way win in the Coolmore Fusaichi Pegasus Matron Stakes at Leopardstown.

The Mark Johnston-trained filly, winner of the English and Irish 1000 Guineas last year, had disappointed in her two starts this year.

But that was all forgotten after Attraction blew her rivals away to land the fifth Group One victory of her career.

Sent off the 100-30 second-favourite, Kevin Darley soon had the winner in her usual position at the head of affairs.

Travelling within herself, she took the home turn with a two-length advantage over her rivals and though Virginia Waters and then the fast-finishing favourite Chic threw down their challenges, Darley´s mount gamely stuck on against the far rail.

Chic, set plenty to do by Christophe Soumillon, was catching the winner fast in the final strides but Attraction had done enough to score by three-quarters of a length.

Virginia Waters, this year´s 1000 Guineas heroine, returned to something like her best form to take third.

Having run poorly in Hong Kong and then in Newbury´s Hungerford Stakes, the pressure had been on for Attraction and Johnston´s wife Deirdre was in tears as the successful filly returned to the winner´s enclosure.

'It is just brilliant,' she said. 'I came here in the expectation that we wouldn´t even be running, but when I walked the course, my own version of the penetrometer, my high heels, were hardly going in at all.

'It is great to silence the critics, she was so gutsy and she really deserved it.

'We will look at the QEII and the Sun Chariot and there are a couple of races in America - but not the Breeders´ Cup - after the end of the British season that we will also consider.

'I need to talk to Guy (Roxburghe, owner) but the plan was always to retire her to stud at the end of the year and I imagine that will still be the case.'

Darley was delighted to see Attraction bounce back to form and he told At The Races: 'The way she gallops and her action only justifies running on good ground.

'With the overnight rain we felt if the ground went on the loose side or it was soft it would hinder her and I was so delighted to canter down on it and feel it was just good ground.

'I bounced her out last time in the Hungerford over seven furlongs and she showed her old zest in that she showed plenty of pace early on and today I didn´t want her to run too free.

'I was able to give her a breather when she turned in and when I kicked on she really opened up.

'Her pace is her main weapon and she killed them off with it again.'

? PA Sport