3 minute read
Anthem Alexander overcame the lack of a recent outing to begin her season in the best possible fashion with a cosy win in the Racing Post Lacken Stakes at Naas.
Sent off second-favourite behind Toscanini, last year's Queen Mary winner was settled in last by Pat Smullen and on ground softer than ideal proved easy to back at 5-2.
James Doyle never looked entirely happy on Toscanini and he was hanging from an early stage before staying on when it was all too late, but Joseph O'Brien had nicked a few lengths on The Happy Prince and set a fair target.
Despite a strong headwind, the filly quickened up well and without Smullen having to get too serious with her, Anthem Alexander just had to be kept up to her work to register the win and tee herself up for a trip back to Royal Ascot.
Her success gave trainer Eddie Lynam a double on the day following the earlier win of Ortiga.
RaceBets make Anthem Alexander 8-1 from 12-1 for the inaugural running of the Commonwealth Cup.
"I'm relieved more than anything and know she has trained on. That run will do her the world of good," said Lynam.
"If I have my way she will go for the Commonwealth, but she is also entered in the King's Stand and the other option is to run in both.
"We know she doesn't like soft or heavy ground and we know she wants good or firm, so we wanted to run her here to see where we could draw a line in the sand."