Roly Poly lands Duchess of Cambridge Stakes for Aidan O’Brien

Roly Poly came home best to claim victory in the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket.

Aidan O’Brien’s filly was one of the more experienced fillies in the field, having made four previous appearances.

And though she failed to get competitive in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot, she bounced back to claim her first Group-race success in the Grangecon Stud Stakes less than a fortnight ago at the Curragh.

A 6-1 chance in the hands of Ryan Moore, Roly Poly raced on the speed from the off and although she was under pressure with well over a furlong still to run, she responded to her rider's urgings, galloping all the way to the line to prevail by half a length from 33-1 shot Magical Fire in a one-two for Irish-trained hourses.

Nations Alexander and Kilmah were close-up in third and fourth respectively.

Moore said: “A lot of these horses have had to run in soft ground, (but) she had her ground and I’m delighted with her.

“It was too soft for her at Ascot and it was a fast race. She was very brave at the Curragh and she’s backed up in under two weeks. She’s very tough and genuine and has plenty of pace.

“I’m sure she’d get a bit further, but six (furlongs) wasn’t a problem.”

Kevin Buckley, UK representative for Coolmore, nominated next month's Lowther Stakes at York as a potential target for the winner.

Buckley said: “We’re very pleased with her and she toughed it out well, going up an extra furlong.

“Ryan Moore was very complimentary about her. She has a wonderful pedigree and being by War Front she’s appreciated that better ground.

“We’ll probably keep her to six furlongs and I’d imagine the Lowther (at York) will come into the equation now. We may take a view to step her up a little further after that, as her mother, Misty For Me, was good over a mile.

“It will be interesting to see what Aidan has to say, but visually, she was impressive.”

Magical Fire’s trainer Michael O’Callaghan said: “She’ll possibly run in the Lowther next as she’s entered in that.

“Colm (O’Donoghue) thought she might have won had there been a stronger pace, as they didn’t go very quick.

“She’s a strong, robust filly that will keep improving and she has a brilliant mind.

“You can put a line through her last run at the Curragh as she had no cover over the straight six, which is very difficult for an immature two-year-old.”

Richard Hannon saddled Nations Alexander and said: "We're very pleased with her run and it's another step in the right direction.

“It was good to see her transfer her level of form to this faster surface.

“She could go up to seven furlongs now.”