Brilliant Laurens shows battling qualities to fend off Happily in Sun Chariot thriller

IT seems nothing can go up against the Laur and come back unscathed as Laurens landed her fifth Group 1 in the Sun Chariot Stakes.

Karl Burke's filly led from pillar to post and just held on from the fast-finishing Happily.

Jockey Danny Tudhope took no prisoners from an early stage, setting a fierce gallop aboard the daughter of Siyouni.

Gradually her rivals began to feel the pinch, and with a furlong to go only Aidan O'Brien's Happily had enough in her locker to mount a challenge.

Despite coming within a neck of Burke's filly at the line, last year's star two-year-old never looked like getting up, and it was celebration time once again for owner John Dance.

After the race, Tudhope was visibly delighted with his filly's effort and said: "She has a lovely long stride and a lot of grit. I think even though she won last time out the ground was too quick.

"She changed her legs a bit again but she loves the track and that's what saw her through - she's won a Fillies' Mile here as well as finishing second in the 1,000 Guineas.

"She's probably the best filly I've ever ridden. She's very straightforward and you can drop your hands or do whatever you want.

"She's such a nice ride and I spoke to PJ Mcdonald (regular rider) and he said I can't see her getting beat - he was absolutely right."

Winning trainer Karl Burke said: "I might have been cursing the rain if she'd got collared. Danny said on that ground she was changing her legs, dancing and hopping around.

"She's a great filly. Two out, I thought she was going to bolt up and she just needed the line in the last 100 yards.

"She was on the go before Christmas, just gently back in working towards the Guineas. She had a nice break after the Prix Diane and that was the best thing we did all year.

FULL RESULTS All the results from Saturday's meeting at Longchamp

"We've got that scalp back off Billesdon Brook (1000 Guineas winner who finished fifth).

"She could be supplemented for the QEII, she's already in the Champion Stakes and there are two options at the Breeders' Cup so we've got a bit to discuss and the main thing is to make sure she's A1."

Roger Varian's Altyn Orda rallied late to grab third, while the game was up early on for second favourite Wind Chimes, who looked unsuited by conditions and faded to finish last.