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Truly Enchanting bounced back to her best when running out a gutsy winner of the Group 2 Airlie Stud Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday.
Aidan O'Brien's filly made a winning debut at Tipperary earlier in the season, a performance that saw connections pitch her into the Listed Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot just ten days ago.
However, she never looked comfortable on the quicker ground at the Berkshire venue and could only finish thirteenth on her second career outing. With the heavens having opened at the Curragh on Saturday morning, punters confidence grew and Truly Enchanting was sent off the 2/1 favourite to bounce back to winning ways.
The daughter of No Nay Never was always prominent under Ryan Moore and although kept honest by Albany Stakes fifth California Dreamer throughout the six-furlong contest, Moore's mount found plenty for pressure in the closing stages, coming away to land the Group 2 prize by half a length.
Stablemate January finished a further two and a quarter lengths behind in third under jockey Wayne Lordan.
"We thought she was a five/six-furlong filly who would handle any ease in the ground," said O'Brien.
"Ryan gave her a great ride; she was very green. Conditions suited her.
"She took the race in Ascot very well. She was just a bit green and babyish in the Queen Mary. It was kind of a last-minute decision to go five with her.
"Because she had won at Tipperary, we said we'd chance it, but when she ran at Tipperary it was soft ground, so she found it a big change on the fast ground.
"Ryan gave her a great ride, she's tough and hardy and we're delighted with her.
"He didn't go until he really had to and he kept cajoling her, he didn't want to get into a bumping match with her.
"He said to change the bit. She's very straightforward at home but I suppose she was coming up there on the stand's rail by herself.
"She runs in a happy bit, a very soft bit, and it's as soft as you can put on them. He said to put a ring bit in her, it'll help to keep her straight as it keeps the bit very balanced in their mouth.
"She's not really able to catch hold of it when there is a ring on it."
