Rain Goddess back to her best with Curragh success

Rain Goddess showed no ill effects from a disappointing run in the Beverly D. Stakes at Arlington in America 15 days ago by grinding out victory in the Group Three Snow Fairy Fillies' Stakes at the Curragh.

The daughter of Galileo returned to the kind of form that had seen her finish second to Enable in the Irish Oaks, to register her first success since her debut 11 months ago.

The 11-4 joint-favourite got past her pacemaking stablemate Key To My Heart inside the final furlong to get first run over her market rival, the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Intimation, and land the nine-furlong heat by half a length.

Roger Varian's Dawn Of Hope was the same distance back in third.

The win gave Aidan O'Brien a treble on the day and jockey Ryan Moore a double.

O'Brien said: "It was great to get her back. She's a very well-bred filly and Ryan gave her a great ride. The last day in America she was just drawn out a little bit too far.

"She had very good form as she was placed in two Group Ones. To win a Group Three is very important to her.

"That's about her trip. Even though she ran over a mile and a half, I'd say probably a mile and a furlong or a mile and a quarter is her trip.

"The Blandford looks perfect for her. After winning that we can travel with her, it's a big help. The pressure is off once she's won a Group race.

"The Blandford, then you'd never know - she could go for the fillies' race (Breeders' Cup Filly And Mare Turf) in America at the end. I think it's a mile and a furlong this year."