Pretty Polly Stakes (Group 1)
July 1, 2023
A meeting of the generations with three-year-olds fillies taking on older mares for the first time this season at Group 1 level. It’s relatively open with only one horse having scored at G1 level previously.
The Older Horses
Joseph O’Brien’s Above The Curve took the G1 Prix Saint-Alary over 1m2f last May at Lonchamp following up in September in the Blandford Stakes beating Insinuendo over the same trip. She was then stepped up to G1 level in the Prix de l’Opera where she ran third beaten by Place Du Carrousel (a filly she’d beaten in the Saint-Alary) and Nashwa. She finished off her season well beaten in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf. This year kicked off poorly when last in the G2 Mooresbridge Stakes though she turned that around next time out when returning to the winner’s circle when taking the G2 Prix Corrida in France. Joseph also runs Goldana, a G3 winner in the Gladness Stakes this year, then fourth in the G2 Lanwades Stud Stakes.
Via Sistina travels from England. She’s an improving filly since moving to George Boughey’s yard last year. She took a G3 at Toulouse last backend and this year was an eased downed 6L winner of the G2 Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket on seasonal debut.
Paddy Toomey won this last year with La Petite Coco with Rosscarberry running third, then disqualified for weighing in light. She won the G3 Stanerra Stakes over 1m6f in July at Leopardstown and was second over 1m2f in the G1 Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville in August. Fourth in the Irish St. Leger and fifth in the G1 Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot finished off her season. Her seasonal debut was a winning one in the Munster Oaks over 1m4f which will have put her in good stead for this.
Willie McCreery’s Insinuendo is a good mare evidenced by that second to Above The Curve in the Blanchford. She was ahead of Rosscarberry in the Fillies & Mares when running third at 80/1. She showed she’s still capable when winning the G3 Park Express Stakes here In March, then running third in the G2 Lanwades Stud Stakes, a place ahead of Goldana.
Jessica Harrington’s Truevence came good twice last year at Deauville. She won the G3 Prix de Psyche over 1m1f following up in the G2 Prix de la Nonette over 1m2f last August. Like, Above the Curve she contested the Opera fading in eighth. This year she did better than Above The Curve in the Mooresbridge finishing a place in front of her. She then contested the Tattersalls Gold Cup finishing last.
Stay Alert from the Hughie Morrison yard, like Sistina, also travels from England. A G3 winner of the Arc Trial at Newbury over 1m3f last September was her highlight last year.
The Three Year Old’s
Two three year old’s will benefit from weight for age allowance receiving 10 pounds from the older horses.
Aidan O’Brien’s Never Ending Story represents Ballydoyle. She did well in two classic runs in France running second in the Prix de Diane to Blue Rose Cen improving on her fifth place to the same filly in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches. The step up from 1m to 1m2f may well have been the key.
Never Ending Story winning the Silver Flash Stakes last year
The interesting one in the field is Comhra. Jim Bolger’s filly had snippets of form last year as a juvenile. She was beaten a 1¼L by Mediate in the G3 Fillies Sprint Stakes at Naas on good ground. Raced over 1m this season she was sixth to Insinuendo in the Park Express then fifth in the Cornelscourt Stakes at Leopardstown, both G3’s. Jim stepped her up to G1 company in the Irish 1000 Guineas where she ran a cracker to be third at odds of 150/1. Note, she nearly got up for second.
Comhra in the ring before the Irish 1000 Guineas
There’s no standout candidate here. Sistina heads the market at 7/4 favourite with Above The Curve next at 3/1 . At the prices, there is a more attractive option. The three-year-old fillies are getting 10 lbs which might prove crucial.
In the French Classics, Never Ending Story was beaten by one of the two best three-year-old fillies in Europe, Blue Rose Cen. In the Irish Classic, Comhra was beaten by the other one, Tahiyra. We may be given a clue of which is the best here. This step up will suit Jim’s filly, her best work was coming late with her ears pricked. Aidan’s has proved herself over the trip . There both worth backing.
Recommendation
Never Ending Story 7/1 win
Comhra 12/1 ew
The Pattern Racing World Championships 2023
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