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| Staff Writer |
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Karl Burke achieved great success on Sunday when Fallen Angel won the Group One 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh. The outstanding juvenile filly from last year returned to form, securing a splendid victory for the Middleham trainer. Earlier, Darnation triumphed in Dusseldorf, adding to Britain's dominance in this season's major Classic matches with Ireland. Fallen Angel's win further emphasized Britain's 4-0 lead.
At the two-furlong pole, it became clear that Fallen Angel, last year's Moyglare Stud Stakes winner, was unstoppable as she accelerated from the front, leaving her competitors behind. This victory was a redemption for the grey filly, as she had disappointed in her previous race at the Qipco 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket, where she finished eighth out of 16 contenders.
After a period of uncertainty, a return to the Curragh and a shift to more positive tactics proved to be the key to Fallen Angel's success. It's evident that Fallen Angel is living up to the high expectations placed upon her by Burke and jockey Danny Tudhope.
Despite facing personal challenges, including battling cancer, Burke appeared in good spirits. His joy was evident as he tried to articulate the magnitude of the memorable Sunday.
He said, "It's been an amazing day – that doesn’t happen very often. This is what we work for.
"I had cancer late last year and an operation and a bit of chemotherapy. I finished the chemo in December and since then it’s been back to work. We keep going and hopefully we’re all square.
"I never took a backwards step, you have to face what’s happening to you and worse things happen to a lot of other people, so you’ve just got to get on with it."
Burke has accomplished this in an impressive manner. He had Fallen Angel performing at her best as she succeeded in overshadowing her lackluster performance at Newmarket.
The trainer said of his star filly, "She showed she was top class last year and we were disappointed after the Guineas at Newmarket, but it's so hard going to Newmarket and preparing a horse for the Guineas there. You just don't know where you are with them.
"She didn’t blow that much after Newmarket. The ground maybe was a bit quick on the undulations, but that’s looking for excuses – we were beaten fair and square on the day.
"I knew coming out of the Guineas and coming into this race that mentally she was in the right place. She just sparked up, especially in the last week or ten days, and physically she looked fantastic."
She looked fantastic in the race. Tudhope kept it simple, knowing he was on the best filly, and she proved hard to pass—she never was.
The winning jockey said, "She was back to her old self today. She felt like the filly I rode last year. Newmarket was just a bit of a blip. Look, we may have got tactics wrong, but at the same time I don't think she handled the track at Newmarket, or the ground. She's a filly who stays very well and I'm sure she'll stay ten furlongs.
"She's very honest, she keeps trying and keeps giving you everything. She just loves to gallop."
A Lilac Rolla performed best among the home team, enhancing her reputation despite losing her unbeaten record. Meanwhile, the returning Prix Marcel Boussac winner, Opera Singer, showed plenty of promise by finishing third.
O'Brien was absolutely chuffed with Opera Singer, saying, "I was delighted with her and I couldn't believe she ran so well. She was never away and was only in full work a little over a month ago, or even less than a month. We'll look forward to the next day and I'd say that will be the Coronation Stakes at Ascot."
"I don’t know about Royal Ascot for Fallen Angel," Burke said. "We’ll have to have that discussion. We’ve got the option of the French Oaks as well and as you can see she stays very well. We’ll enjoy today and worry about that later."
Burke is unlikely to have many better Sundays than this, so he should savor it. It was an international masterclass.