Group Success For Sugar Island At The Curragh

Sugar Island (2f Dubawi - Heaven On Earth, by Galileo) secured a first Group success when readily landing the Staffordstown Stud Stakes at the Curragh on Tuesday.

The Ballydoyle-trained filly had won at the Curragh on debut in July and was third in the Group 2 May Hill Stakes at Doncaster last month.

Ridden by Wayne Lordan, Sugar Island made all to record a two-and-three-quarter-length success. In third was fellow Ballydoyle runner Ice Dancer (by Wootton Bassett).

Stable representative Chris Armstrong said of the Westerberg-bred filly: “Wayne gave her a lovely ride, she’s a big galloping filly who stays very well.

“She had a very good run at Doncaster in a Group 2 and last time in Newmarket [the Fillies' Mile], it just didn’t work out on quick ground so we just put a line through it. Wayne gave her a very straightforward ride back here. She’s a filly with a touch of class and it’s lovely to get that stakes victory for her now and bring her back for an Oaks trial next year.

“Hopefully she progresses nicely over the winter. She’s a big filly that can gallop at a solid tempo and should stay well over a trip. She looks like a perfect middle-distance filly.”