Fallen Angel’s excellent season continued when she ultimately ran out a decisive winner of the betMGM Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday.
A winner of the Moyglare Stud Stakes as a juvenile, Fallen Angel enjoyed a successful Classic campaign, landing the Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh in May before returning later in the season with high-class efforts in both the Matron Stakes and Prix de l'Opera Longines.
Things haven't been straightforward this season but after returning to form in first-time cheekpieces in the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot, the Karl Burke-trained daughter of Too Darn Hot hasn't looked back since winning the Prix Rothschild at Deauville before going one spot better in the Matron Stakes this time around.
Stepping out onto Newmarket's Rowley Mile for the first time since disappointing in the 1000 Guineas last season, Karl Burke's filly was sent off an 11/4 chance to complete a Group 1 hat-trick, with Charlie Appleby's Cinderella's Dream, who finished ahead of her at Royal Ascot, the 11/8 market leader under William Buick.
Cinderella's Dream found herself with plenty to do as the front-running Fallen Angel came down the dip still holding the advantage, but it was by no means over at that stage, with Blue Bolt emerging from the pack to throw down what looked like being a serious challenge against the near side rail.
The pair briefly set down to fight it out, but it quickly became clear that the battle was going to be short lived as Wathnan Racing's Fallen Angel readily swatted the Juddmonte-owned filly aside before drawing clear for an impressive all-the-way two and a quarter length success under James Doyle. Cinderella's Dream was a further four and a half lengths away in a remote third.
Karl Burke, who landed a remarkable five Group 1 victories in September and plundered the Cambridgeshire with Boiling Point at Newmarket last weekend, told ITV Racing: "Fallen Angel's not only tough, but she's also very talented. She loves a fight, she loves a battle, but she's got the ability to go with it.
"Well, the plan all along, from early on in the season, Richard [Brown] says she stays in training next year as long as she finishes the season sound and fingers crossed that's still the plan.
"I'd love to try her at a mile-and-a-quarter, she should be staying and I'm sure she would stay a mile-and-a-quarter. Her run style is that she doesn't want pulling around and over a mile-and-a-quarter you might be trying to settle her, but I'm sure somewhere next year we might try that again."
On more immediate plans, Burke confirmed she will head to Ascot for the QEII on Champions Day, for which she was cut to 4/1 (from 6s) by Paddy Power.
He added: "If she's fit and well in the next two weeks, she'll go to the QEII on Champions Day at Ascot."
