Last year’s winning connections of the Group 2 Temple Stakes were experiencing deja-vu as the Clive Cox-trained Priceless ousted her rivals in the six furlong contest.
Well away from the gate under Adam Kirby, the four-year-old filly lead a group towards the stands side early and then tracked overall leader Take Cover.
Asked for her effort just over two furlongs out, Priceless quickened to the front over a furlong out and found plenty.
She held off the late thrust of the eight-year-old Goldream by half-a-length.
For Kirby, who teamed up with Cox to great success with the likes of My Dream Boat last season, this registers as his biggest win to date in 2017.
“You go back to when I rode her first time out I got off her and said she’s one of the best filly’s I’ve ever ridden,” reflected Kirby.
“She’s always knocked at the door but it’s probably my fault I was trying to get her to go six. Clive rightly dropped her back to five and it’s been the making of her.”
A daughter of Exceed And Excel, Priceless follows in the hoof steps of her stable mate Profitable, who won this very race 12 months ago for the same owner Alan Spence.
Cox said: “She’s a filly that gets better as the year goes on. Last year we were very certain of that.
“She’s had her ground early this year, she’s thrived already and I think she’s still getting better and I’m thrilled she’s taken a step up.”
She’s one of the best filly’s I’ve ever ridden
Earlier in the afternoon, Harry Angel gave his stable a notable Group double after producing an impressive performance in the Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes.
The son of Dark Angel was sharp away from the stalls under Kirby and took his six rivals along racing keenly.
Once asked to win his race inside the final two furlongs, he strode clear to win the six furlong prize by four-and-a-half-lengths from Second Thought.
