Laurel headlines high-class Kempton treble for Gosdens
Laurel underlined her Classic potential with an authoritative success in the Snowdrop Fillies’ Stakes, completing an Easter Monday Kempton treble for co-trainers John and Thady Gosden.
The daughter of Kingman had looked the part when making a winning debut at Newmarket in July.
She followed up in a mile novice at Kempton and was only beaten three-quarters of a length by Fonteyn when trying Group One company in the Sun Chariot on the Rowley Mile.
A huge prospect for the season ahead!
Laurel wins the Racing TV Snowdrop Fillies' Stakes.#ITVRacing | @kemptonparkrace pic.twitter.com/KxQXRKdULX
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) April 10, 2023
Having her first start since that October reverse, and partnered by Ryan Moore for the first time, she easily put her eight rivals to the sword in the Racing TV-sponsored Listed contest.
Though the early pace was pedestrian, Moore sat just on the withers of early pace-setter Abhayaa, before gradually winding the Juddmonte-owned filly up.
Having asked her for a response, she quickly lengthened with a furlong and a half to run and strode clear with ease under hands and heels for a three-and-a-half-length success from the staying-on Lightship, who was rated 29lb inferior on official ratings.
Laurel was cut to 5-1 (from 6-1) by Betfair for the Lockinge at Newbury and 7-1 (from 8s) for the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Thady Gosden said: “It was her first run of the year and she ran a little fresh early, but she did it nicely.
“It was all very uncomplicated and she picked up well in the straight and went through the gears nicely.
“Obviously from stall nine you have to either be positive or accepting from the back, so Ryan went forward on her and she picked up well.
“She is a talented filly, as she has shown, and she is improving. We just have to find the right spot for her now. There are fillies’ races we can go for over a mile or a mile and one, then there are the open races. We’ll have to see.”
Gosden senior was quick to pay tribute to not only the ability of Moore, but also his post-race insight.
He said: “Not only is he probably the greatest international jockey, but he is also the greatest adviser after a race. What he tells me after a race is worth a great deal. He guides you well and he made a lot of sense there.
“Ryan was very happy with her and he likes her a lot. The filly was very immature as a two-year-old and then she has come through.
“Her immaturity probably cost her the Sun Chariot and I think not knowing much about it as well as she hit the front and wandered about a bit. She is learning all the time.
The Duke of Cambridge (at Royal Ascot) is an obvious target,
“She is a lovely filly. She didn’t do a lot last season. She won a novice and then won here and was second in a Group One. She is very much an improving filly. Her mother has not had a lot of luck as a broodmare, but this filly has turned it around.
An outing in Group Two company appears to be next up for Laurel with Gosden senior earmarking either the Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket on May 7th or the Ridgewood Pearl Stakes at the Curragh as potential options ahead of an engagement at Royal Ascot.
Gosden added: “Ryan has given me two options so I’ll be scratching my head, but I’m clear with what I’m doing with the first one.
“The Duke of Cambridge (at Royal Ascot) is an obvious target, but talking to Ryan it is what we do between then and now.
“If it was fast ground at Newmarket (for the Dahlia Stakes) he was steering me elsewhere which is very good advice. They are on them, they feel and they know them.
“Thady has mentioned a race in Ireland (Ridgewood Pearl Stakes) so that is a possibility. He has been reading the book and I haven’t so he is ahead of me on that. He is always race planning well ahead of me.”
