English runner Estrange wins Pretty Polly as Oaks heroine beaten English runner and five-year-old grey mare Estrange (13/8) gained a first Group 1 success in the Paddy Power Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh today, with recent Oaks winner Thundering On (10/11f) failing to fire and finishing fourth. Held up in rear division, the winning daughter of Night Of Thunder progressed to lead two furlongs out under jockey Danny Tudhope and having been ridden clear, scored readily by 1.5 lengths from One Look . Thundering On, who had scored so impressively in the Epsom classic 22 days ago, had also been held up in rear and while she challenged two furlongs out, failed to match winner Estrange and, in the closing stages, faded to finish fourth. Winning North Yorkshire-based trainer, and Cork native, David O’Meara was registering a first top-level success since 2021, and reported “she is a wonderful filly. She was maybe caught a little bit wide throughout, but it looked like it was pretty smooth sailing for Danny. “There is a big weight-for=age allowance for the three-year-olds (including Thundering On), so I didn't know if that would tell in the last half-a-furlong, up the hill. "She travelled nicely to the two-furlong pole and dropping back in trip has definitely not been a negative, it could have been the making of her. Maybe we have been running her over the wrong trip, but I'm delighted with today and delighted for Cheveley Park (winning owners). Cheveley Park have been sending me horses now for over a decade and it's brilliant for them.” Regarding plans, he added “we'd love to go for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and she has that entry. It was important that she got the Group 1 win under her belt, and she did so in good style today. We'll enjoy this and figure out where we go next." Quotes from John O’Riordan
