Laurens has returned to her best form and what a form it was! With a tenacious front-running shift she upset Alpha Centauri's plans for her fifth unbeaten run in a thrilling edition of the Gr.1 Matron Stakes.
Laurens' jockey Danny Tudhope was standing in for PJ McDonald after Burke's Wexford-born rider suffered fractures to his left ankle and right heel in a freak parade ring fall at Newcastle earlier in the month, had already won this year's Pretty G1 Polly Stakes on Urban Fox.
The result constituted glorious vindication of the decision to drop the Gr.1 One Thousand Guineas runner-up back to a mile after she failed to stay 12 furlongs in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks.
Alpha Century suffered injuries to her foot which resulted in her being retired.
Click here to watch winner race Matron Stakes 2018
1st Laurens (K. Burke,D. Tudhope), 2nd Alpha Centauri (M. Harrington,C. O'Donoghue), 3rd Clemmie (A. O'Brien,S. Heffernan), 4th Magical (A. O'Brien,R. Moore), 5th Happily (A. O'Brien,D. O'Brien), 6th Lightening Quick (J. Murtagh,O. Murphy), 7th Dan's Dream (M. Channon,R. Whelan)
Distance: 1 mile (1,609 metres), Surface: Turf, Track: Left-handed, Qualification: Three-years-old and up,fillies and mares, Weight: 9 st 0 lb (3yo);,9 st 5 lb (4yo+), Purse: €350,000 (2017),1st: €206,500
Credit: Ritesh Jamkhedkar ritesh.jamkhedkar@secretariatsworld.com