Chorist wins Group 1 Pretty Polly

Chorist produced a gutsy front-running effort to hold off favored Alexander Goldrun and win the Group 1 Audi Pretty Polly Stakes at The Curragh on Saturday.

The 8-5 second choice behind Alexander Goldrun at 3-2, Chorist looked beaten when Alexander Godrun almost drew even passing the furlong marker. But Chorist, a 5-year-old mare who is owned and bred by the Cheveley Park Stud, proved impossible to pass and was drawing away at the line to win by a half-length.

It was another six lengths back to longshot Ivowen in third place. Chorist, ridden by Darryll Holland, covered 1 1/4 miles on good turf in 2:02.80 to give 43-year-old William Haggas, who trains at Newmarket in England, the third Group 1 victory of his career.

The big disappointment of the race was Hanami, who won this race last year. Trained by James Toller, who last month won the Irish 2000 Guineas with Bachelor Duke, Hanami finished a distant last of six runners.