SNOW FAIRY capped what has been a wonderful season for La Grange stables when netting a purse of close on £1.4m with another fabulous performance to land the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup (1m 3f) in the early hours of Sunday morning in Kyoto.
Our brilliant dual Oaks winner, who did not have the stamina for the St Leger, relished dropping back in trip, and the 15-2 chance not only won one of Japan's most prestigious prizes but simply annihilated the opposition, scoring by four lengths in a time of 2m 12.5s, only 1s outside the course record.
Ed Dunlop, jubilant as he relayed details of the triumph from trackside, said:"It was an amazing experience and right up there with Ouija Board's Breeders Cup victories. Ryan (Moore) sat fifth on Snow Fairy as the leaders went off very fast, and turning into the straight he stuck to the fence, and when he asked the filly a question she quickened instantly and it was all over in a matter of strides. I know that I am biased, but it was very impressive.
"Ryan got off and confirmed as much, and even he was smiling when he dismounted! He said that he could not believe how well Snow Fairy was for this time of the year - she is still very fresh and the fact that she took the journey so well gave us reason to go into the race with a fair bit of optimism, but we knew the opposition was strong, so to have left Apapane, Japan's Fillies Triple Crown winner, five and three quarter lengths back in third is some performance."
It was a gamble going all that way so late in the year, especially with a filly, but Snow Fairy, who made our domestic season when winning at Epsom and The Curragh, seemed so well, and, with the Japan Racing Association offering a special bonus whereby any prize money that Snow Fairy earned from finishing in the first three would automatically be doubled, connections decided to roll the dice, and that has been rewarded big-time as the near £700,000 first prize suddenly becomes almost £1.4m.
There is an invitation on the table for Snow Fairy, who stays in training as a four-year-old, to go for the double in the Japan Cup on Nov 28, but, while Ed said that was still "a possibility", he stressed that Mrs (Christina) Patino, the filly's owner, will have the final decision.
He added:"Snow Fairy will leave for Tokyo on Tuesday, and we will monitor her well-being over the next week or so and see how she has taken the race. She has won four lengths, but however easily you win you always have a toughish race in a Group One, so we will keep our options open, and, ultimately, Mrs Patino will have the final say."
Ed, who flies back tomorrow, will be at the Cartier dinner on Tuesday night, when Snow Fairy is one of the nominations for the three-year-old filly award. She looked a short price to pick up that prize before Japan - what price now!