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Spiritual home is Epsom for Princess Elizabeth winner

Spiritual home is Epsom for Princess Elizabeth winner

Stepping back up to a mile having run creditably on her return over seven furlongs at Lingfield, John and Thady Gosden's filly was sent off at 9-1 in a competitive field for the Group Three contest.
After a furlong Havlin crossed over to the rail from his wide draw and coming around Tattenham Corner he stole a couple of lengths, before drawing further and further clear in the home straight to beat Bright Thunder by four and three-quarter lengths.
John Gosden said: 'She loved it in front and got a bit of space around her which gave her plenty of confidence and she relaxed.
Spiritual had the race won a long way from home (Adam Davy/PA)
'Leah, who rides her every day, does a great job as she's a handful and she goes off funny little places on her own otherwise she's off.
'A mile is her trip and that was an easy mile, she ran well in the seven-furlong race at Lingfield. It was lovely to win a Group Three like that in good style and they gave it to her easy up front as they say.
'She's a good filly, but she sometimes worries about the others. The good thing is she got free there.
'She's got a Group Three now so we'll go and look at a Group Two somewhere and if she doesn't win she might be placed. There's one in France we've our eye on and we were just hoping to run well today and not go win like that. '
Spiritual storms home from the front in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes pic.twitter.com/uIjoDWaoyb
— Adam Morgan (@Adam_Morgs) June 7, 2025
Karl Burke's Bright Thunder finished second and the trainer said: 'She ran a brilliant race and I'm very happy with her.
'She loved the ground and probably could have done with it being a bit softer. I think that was probably a career best and we're very happy.'
Meanwhile David Loughnane was buoyed by the performance of stable star Sparks Fly in third and is already looking forward to future efforts in this grade.
Loughnane said: 'She ran a blinder, she just didn't get out in time.
'She's handled the ground fine and that's the first time she's gone and got black type with good in the going description, I'm thrilled with the run.
'It was a real blinder and it opens up a few more options for her now. I've always thought she was a Group Three horse and she's proved it there.
'I thought she was the best horse in the race, but just got held up and didn't get there in time.'
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