Sugar Island succeeds in Staffordstown Stud Stakes Coolmore’s well-bred Sugar Island (5/1) gained a first stakes success today, landing the Curragh’s Group 3 Staffordstown Stud Stakes to give champion trainer Aidan O’Brien and Derby-winning jockey Wayne Lordan doubles on the day. By Dubawi and out of a winning sister to top racemare Minding, Sugar Island had scored on her July debut and while well held in Newmarket’s Group 1 Fillies Mile three weeks ago, today made all to score comfortably from Thundering On. O’Brien’s representative Chris Armstrong stated “Wayne gave her a lovely ride, she’s a big galloping filly who stays very well. “She had a very good run at Doncaster in a Group 2 and last time in Newmarket, it just didn’t work out on quick ground so we just put a line through it. Wayne gave her a very straightforward ride back here. She’s a filly with a touch of class and it’s lovely to get that stakes victory for her now and bring her back for an Oaks trial next year. “Hopefully she progresses nicely over the winter. She’s a big filly that can gallop at a solid tempo and should stay well over a trip. She looks like a perfect middle distance filly.” Quotes from Gary Carson
