Currie elated as Angels Lane wins St Hugh’s

Nicola Currie earned the second Listed victory of her career as Angels Lane showed a smart turn of foot to pull clear and win the Visit Malta St Hugh’s Stakes at Newbury.

Wateera and Fast Track were disputing the lead as they entered the halfway point but Currie, who won the Flying Fillies’ Stakes at Pontefract on Princess Shabnam in 2022, was always travelling sweetly on Henry Candy’s daughter of Harry Angel.

She hit the front a furlong and a half out and quickly put the race to bed, stretching clear to beat Fast Track by two and three-quarter lengths at 100-30.

Currie told Sky Sports Racing:  “I’m absolutely delighted. It’s nice to have a good horse. She’s a really nice filly and she’s done it so easily. She just got pipped off in the Super Sprint and she deserved to win it. The boss has looked after her up until now and that’s what he does. I’m really excited to have an exciting horse like her.

“As well for a Harry Angel, she’s got a really good head on her. She’s run quite free but when I got on Wateera’s girth she did drop it (the bridle) and then I was able to do my own thing. She’s just got a little bit lonely in front but she’s very nice filly.

“Henry’s been very good to me. When I was in there riding out, Fran Berry was there so I’ve been in Henry’s yard for a long time.  I was second to Trevor Whelan for the last two seasons and unfortunately with Trevor being off injured it’s allowed me to move up. And it’s very kind that Henry’s allowed me to do that. You’ve got to feel for Trevor while he’s out but I’ll take every bit of it I can.”

Evenfall (6-5 favourite) had to dig deep to maintain her unbeaten record in the BetVictor Watch Weekend Winners EBF Fillies’ Conditions Stakes.

Billy Loughnane looked like cruising to victory on George Boughey’s youngster but she idled in front and was pushed close by Sorrengail.

Loughnane said: “She moved up really nicely and she had a good look around when I was there and I never felt like I was going to get beat. And she’s a filly for loftier targets.

“She’s got a very good cruising speed and she’s definitely not slow, six is probably perfect for her two-year-old campaign and it’ll be interesting to see how she does develop. We can make more plans from there.”

Sweetwonderfulyou (4-6 favourite) struck at the second time of asking in the hands of Tom Marquand in the Highclere Horse Feeds EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes.

Marquand said: “Clearly she’s a lovely filly and plenty to work with but I think she just might be levelling up a bit physically and I felt that pinch today.

“She’s a lovely filly and she’s got her head in front on her second start after a really promising first start so its all positive and she’s one to really look forward to with the scope of what she’s going to step up into.”