Just Wonderful Emulates Dam Wading in Rockfel Stakes

Just Wonderful emulated her dam, Wading, landing the Shadwell Rockfel Stakes (G2) Sept. 28 to set up a possible tilt at the Bet365 Fillies Mile (G1) back at Newmarket next month.

The daughter of Dansili gave trainer Aidan O'Brien his third win in the traditional pointer to the QIPCO One Thousand Guineas (G1) and was cut to 12-1 (from 20-1) by Paddy Power for the 2019 Classic after overcoming Dandhu and favorite Main Edition.

Mark Johnston, trainer of the latter, looked set to win his first Rockfel when the 15-8 choice kicked for home at the bushes, but she had no answer to the late run of the winner.

Just Wonderful could only finish seventh to Skitter Scatter when previously seen in the Sept. 16 Moyglare Stud Stakes (G1) at the Curragh, but you would not have known it judging by the way she bounded up the hill under Ryan Moore to score by 1 3/4 lengths from Dandhu.

Kevin Buckley, spokesman for winning owners Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Susan Magnier, said: "Just Wonderful did that very easily, and Ryan thought he may well have got there too soon if anything. Her dam won this race in 2011, so she was bred for the job, and she's a filly that Aidan has liked all along."

While the Rockfel is a Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" race to the Nov. 2 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) at Churchill Downs, Buckley indicated the Fillies Mile at home Oct. 12 may be in the cards.

"She could come back for the Fillies Mile as she has won over a mile already, but Aidan will make the call."

David Elsworth, trainer of Dandhu, said: "She's a nice filly, and she's drifted into this level without any questions being asked. She won at Kempton and was green as grass, and I haven't overdone her. It was nice to see her run as well as she did, and I feel she's an improving filly. That will probably be the end of the season for her. She would have liked more cut in the ground."

On Main Edition, Johnston said: "We're disappointed to be third, but it's not the end of the world. Frankie (Dettori) came in and said he went a bit quick. He said at the moment she gets the seven (furlongs), but she only just gets it. That was the impression at the Curragh as well.

"She won't run again this year, and we'd still be hopeful she'd get the mile of the Guineas, and we'll aim for that."