Red Letter confirms her class in Snow Fairy strike

Red Letter relished the step up in trip to run out a cosy winner of the Snow Fairy Fillies Stakes at the Curragh.

Trained by Ger Lyons, the Juddmonte-owned three-year-old began her season in the 1000 Guineas having not been too far away in the Fillies’ Mile last year.

While she finished seventh in the Newmarket Classic, she was less than three lengths behind Desert Flower, although she was a beaten even-money favourite on her next start down in Listed company.

Lyons kept her to that level at Killarney last time out when she looked ready for further and so it proved in this nine-furlong Group Three contest.

The Frankel filly looked to have conceded first run to John and Thady Gosden’s Sand Gazelle, but when Gary Carroll pulled the 6-5 favourite out she powered home.

The winning margin was a length and a half and she looks ready to step back up in class.

“That was lovely. As I said to Barry (Mahon, Juddmonte racing manager) she’s crying out for that trip but is probably only ready for it now,” said Lyons.

“You can see it in her physically, she’s only filling her frame.

“We’ll have a look at the Blandford. The ground is very important, she needs ease in the ground.

“We have a lovely horse to look forward to next year. We’ve just had to be so patient with her. You can see the size of her there, she was angular, and she should only be starting now.

“Hopefully she’ll fulfil all of her potential in the next 12 months. She’s a filly to look forward to.

“We’re looking forward to the end of this year, which is Champions Weekend – which is very important to us.

“Obviously the family have their say on her, but we’ve been training her with all of this in mind, the back end and next year. It looks like she’s going to fulfil her potential and thank us for being patient.

“I think she can get a mile and a half no problem.”