3 minute read
Queen Mary fourth collects Group Three honours
Liberty Beach overcame trouble in running to record a decisive success in the Markel Insurance Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood.
Having followed up a debut victory at Redcar with success in the Hilary Needler at Beverley, John Quinn's filly finished fourth in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot before bouncing back to winning ways with a dominant display in the Dragon Stakes at Sandown in early July.
Stepping back up in class for this five-furlong Group Three, the daughter of Cable Bay was the 11-8 favourite in the hands of Jason Hart – but her supporters were made to sweat before eventually collecting their cash.
Wesley Ward's Maven soon swept to the lead under Frankie Dettori and Liberty Beach appeared well positioned on his tail.
However, as the American raider faltered, Quinn's charge was briefly left with nowhere to go and Hart had no option but to sit and wait.
Once the gap did come, though, she quickened up smartly and was good value for the winning margin of a length.
The Joseph O'Brien-trained Alligator Alley filled the runner-up spot, with Show Me Show Me coming from a long way back to grab third.
Quinn said: "One could say she didn't get the best passage through. I think some of the horses coming back got in her way, but she showed once again acceleration that is special.
"She nearly ran her race to get there (the front), and there was nothing Jason could do about it. But once she got out of it, she goes, and he couldn't pull her up – which is a good sign."
Liberty Beach could step up to six furlongs for the first time in the Prix Morny at Deauville, a race Quinn won five years ago with The Wow Signal.
"I put her in the Morny this morning, because I felt this morning she was good enough, but she had to do it this afternoon," the trainer added.
"She is in the Lowther (at York), and the Morny is the same weekend, so we shall see. I like the Morny. It's a Group One we have been lucky in with The Wow Signal, and this is a high-class filly.
"In my mind it's the Lowther or the Morny, the Prix d l'Abbaye and then the Breeders' Cup. You need tactical speed to be competitive in America, and she has loads of that."
Owner Philip Wilkins said: "She showed something today, even more than what she did at Sandown. I like to follow John Quinn's advice, and so far it has been absolutely perfect.
"We will take it a step at a time. If he thinks the Breeders' Cup is on the radar then maybe it will be an option.
"I'm mindful of the travelling, going to America, and there are races in this country I'd like to have a look at. We will work it out with John."
