Laurens 'Absolutely Bouncing' Prior to Matron Bid

Laurens may have come into the one-mile Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron Stakes (G1) last year as the underdog behind Alpha Centauri, but having dethroned that great race mare in an epic duel, it's Karl Burke's six-time group 1 winner who will be there for others to take aim at Sept. 14.

She sets a lofty standard, too, but no horse has managed to record back-to-back Matron Stakes wins since the race was elevated to group 1 status in the mid-'80s.

After running well in defeat in the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes (G1) and the Queen Anne (G1) this year, Laurens ran out an easy winner of the Prix Rothschild (G1) in France.

An inadequate seven furlongs may have caught her out of her element in the Sky Bet City of York Stakes (G2) last time, but, according to Burke, his star mare has come out of that contest in tremendous shape, leading connections to the opinion that a repeat success could be on the cards.

"This has been one of her main aims for 2019. I'm really happy with her. She's in great form and goes there with a great chance," Burke said. "At York last time, she was giving weight to a smart horse in Shine So Bright, who was better suited by seven furlongs on that track than we were and whose jockey, James Doyle, probably won the race when he took two lengths out of us in 50 yards turning in."

He added: "She lost nothing in defeat, and we certainly don't regret running her because it fitted in well with her work program, and she's absolutely bouncing now."

Aidan O'Brien would join John Dunlop as the most successful trainer in this race's history if any one of Hermosa, I Can Fly, Happen, or Just Wonderful can score.

Successful with Lillie Langtry in 2010 before Alice Springs and Hydrangea took the 2016 and 2017 runnings, O'Brien is hopeful of adding to his tally. 

Speaking about his team, which is headed by Hermosa, O'Brien said: "Hermosa didn't seem to handle the track at Goodwood (for the group 1 Qatar Nassau Stakes) at all, and it just didn't happen for her on the day. It was a very messy race as well. We've been very happy with her in the lead-up to this, and hopefully she can return to the sort of form she showed earlier in the year."

On I Can Fly, Just Wonderful, and Happen, he added: "I Can Fly is a very consistent filly who always seems to run her race, so hopefully she can do so again. Just Wonderful is a filly we've always thought a lot of. She shows more at home than she has shown on the track so far. Happen is a good filly in her own right."

Iridessa, successful in the Bet365 Fillies' Mile (G1) as a juvenile as well as the Juddmonte Pretty Polly Stakes (G1) over 1 1/4 miles at the Curragh this season, is reverting to the mile after disappointing in the Kerrygold Irish Oaks (G1).

Joseph O'Brien's charge could be a dangerous filly to underestimate and has the assistance of Wayne Lordan, who guided her to two group 1 triumphs.

It's been a race against time with Skitter Scatter all season after last year's outstanding juvenile suffered torn muscles in the QIPCO One Thousand Guineas (G1).

A recent blowout at Tipperary has done Skitter Scatter the world of good, according to John Oxx, who admits the filly has plenty to do back against the best.

"She had a nice run at Tipperary and she has taken a step forward for that, but this will be a tall order for her taking on this sort of company," Oxx said. "She has to take a big jump forward, and while we expect her to have improved for Tipperary, whether she can find the required improvement in just 16 days remains to be seen."

He added: "It's great to get her back in this sort of company again, and conditions are in her favor—she'll like the ground. It's effectively her first run of the season, but we're very happy with her."