Fallen Angel made it back-to-back Group One victories with a battling performance to go one better than 12 months ago in the Coolmore America 'Justify' Matron Stakes at Leopardstown.
Second to Porta Fortuna last year, Karl Burke’s four-year-old was the 9-4 favourite to land the spoils time around on the back of a gutsy win over Aidan O’Brien’s January in the Prix Rothschild.
After James Doyle got the perfect tow into the race from Vera’s Secret, like in Deauville, it was a Ballydoyle rival who laid down a stern challenge to the Wathnan Racing-owned raider in the closing stages as Dylan Browne McMonagle and Exactly made Fallen Angel fight all the way to the line.
The daughter of Too Darn Hot’s tenacious attitude came firmly to the fore late in the day as she registered a half-length success over the O’Brien contender, with Donnacha O’Brien’s Atsila third.
Fallen Angel (9-4F) justifies favouritism under James Doyle in the Group One Coolmore America 'Justify' Matron Stakes as Karl Burke doubles up on the day #IrishChampionsWeekend pic.twitter.com/hB1ZzaHK7m
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) September 13, 2025
"She's so tough, very, very honest, and James gave her a great ride," said Burke.
"It just took James a few rides to get to know her. You just can’t pull her around, you’ve just got to let her go.
"She should be staying a mile and a quarter really, but we’re probably better off being aggressive over a mile, I think. I’m absolutely delighted for everybody.
"I thought we were beat a furlong out when Exactly came to us and then I saw her get her head down when James got stuck into her.
"Whenever Danny (Tudhope) rode her as a two- and three-year-old, he always said she was waiting for a smack to tell her. She’s one of those who waits and waits but when she gets a smack, she always gives it to you.
"We felt that she needed the cheekpieces this time around. She got very lackadaisical in her work at home and she needed the run in the Lockinge first time out.
"I said to Richard Brown (Wathnan Racing adviser) that I’d work her in cheekpieces and see how she goes and she worked very well. You could tell they sharpened her up and they certainly work."
Burke added: "She'll probably go for the Sun Chariot if she’s OK and then we could take on the boys at Ascot on Champions Day."
Karl Burke reflects on Fallen Angel's victory in the Coolmore America 'Justify' Matron Stakes #IrishChampionsWeekend pic.twitter.com/x1qY9SOMGM
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) September 13, 2025
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