Chrysanthemum blooms early

Blinkered for the first time, the David Wachman-trained Chrysanthemum landed the first stakes race of the new flat season, the Group 3 Lodge Park Stud Park Express Stakes, when proving too strong for favourite Twirl and Princess Sinead in glorious sunshine at the Curragh yesterday.

Chrysanthemum’s win proved the highlight of a sparkling treble for Wayne Lordan, also successful on Coolnagree and Amira’s Prince.

A four-year-old Danehill Dancer filly, Chrysanthemum was in front with a furlong and a half to race and ran on strongly to triumph by a length and a half, recording her second Group 3 success, having won the C L Weld Park Stakes at the Curragh as a juvenile.