Channon Scores at Curragh with Samitar

Samitar was a surprise winner of the Etihad Airways Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh.

Mick Channon's filly was sent off a 12-1 chance for the Irish Classic having failed to run up to the level of her useful juvenile form in two starts this season.

Ninth in the French 1000 Guineas on her previous start, she was held-up towards the rear of the field by Martin Harley as Aidan O'Brien's Newmarket 1000 Guineas heroine Homecoming Queen once again cut out the running.

Harley cut a confident figure as he loomed up on Samitar who made ground takingly through the field as Homecoming Queen began to wilt out in front.

Another of the O'Brien string, Ishvana, emerged as a threat close home but never looked like getting to the daughter of Rock Of Gibraltar who scored by a length and a half from the 33-1 chance.

The 25-1 shot Princess Sinead was back in third.

Homecoming Queen was a shock nine-length winner at Newmarket earlier in the month and was unsurprisingly the 11-8 favourite but she could never fully shake off the attentions of her nearest pursuers and there was no response when Joseph O'Brien asked for maximum effort.

She was not the only disappointment, with La Collina and Yellow Rosebud failing to pick up when it mattered.

Samitar travelled like the best horse throughout and was good value for what was a comfortable success and a first Classic victory for both trainer and jockey.

The latter was understandably delighted, saying: "She's been working good and a big thanks to the boss and the staff back home.

"Two furlongs down she was never going to get beat - she was travelling like the winner all the way. It's an amazing feeling."

Channon: "I'm delighted she's found her form. She didn't run badly in France, but she made the running and she should have been held up.

"It was my fault for running her in a sales race at Newmarket before that - I was trying to be clever dropping her back to six furlongs.

"She needed some decent ground and she's got it now.

"She'll go for the Coronation Stakes (Royal Ascot) and she was bought by the owner (Martin Schwartz) to go to America.

"The owner believed in me by putting Martin on and he got it spot-in - she was ridden with confidence.

"Martin's very confident and is a very hard worker."