The only race with ante-post prices chalked up for the weekend at the moment is the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday. Aidan O’Brien is normally one to keep his cards close to his chest but by supplementing Tapestry he has signposted his leading fancy here.
The daughter of Galileo already has a course and distance victory to her credit having won the Group Two Debutante Stakes earlier this month and it is no surprise that her early quote of 3-1 was quickly snapped up. She is now a top price of 2-1 and challenging the brilliant Albany Stakes winner Kiyoshi for favouritism.
O’Brien has also declared Bluebell, Minorette, Perhaps and Wonderfully among the 13 fillies still in the Group 1 contest. Perhaps set a decent pace in the Debutante but Tapestry overhauled her without coming under too much pressure to win by a length and three-quarters. The winner did not show brilliant acceleration but was well on top at the line and we know that she stays the seven furlongs well.
Charlie Hills has kept Kiyoshi under wraps since her devastating win at Royal Ascot. Much was made of her swerve across the course in the closing stages and there is a slight concern about how she will respond when she comes under serious pressure. What cannot be denied is that she was clearly the best filly that day and it is worth taking a closer look at those that finished behind her.
The runner-up Sandiva won a Group 2 at Deauville on her next start whilst Lucky Kristale (6th) has won the Cherry Hinton and the Lowther Stakes (both also Group 2 races). Princess Noor (9th) came out and won the Princess Margaret Stakes at Ascot (Group 3). When Kiyoshi won her maiden at Goodwood she beat Ihtimal who has since won the Group 3 Sweet Solera Stakes.
Connections seem happy that her violent deviation off a true line at Ascot was due to greenness and hitting the front too soon. Jamie Spencer had apparently compared her favourably with Irish Guineas winner Just The Judge prior to her win at the Royal meeting so there will be some long faces if she doesn’t put up a good performance on Sunday.
It is not a two-horse race and I have tons of respect for Clive Brittain’s Rizeena. She won well in the Queen Mary at Ascot and I was disappointed when she found Lucky Kristale too good at Newmarket. She didn’t appear to be at her best that day but ran a lot better last time when third in the Prix Morny behind No Nay Never. She was slowly away but made up plenty of late ground to finish on the heels of the winner. Had this race been over six furlongs, I’d fancy her strongly but going up to seven from five seems a big step.
Jim Bolger has stated that he does not which he will run from Agus Spraoi, Peony Fairy and Prudent Approach whilst Dermot Weld is double-handed with Afternoon Sunlight and Carla Bianca. I’d be very surprised if any of them are in the same class as Tapestry, Kiyoshi and Rizeena.
I think if you’d taken the 3-1 Tapestry you would probably be quite happy with yourself but Kiyoshi has to be the form choice. She is a top price 7-4 and may even go to 2-1 if the gamble on Tapestry is sustained.
Kiyoshi 7-4 Bet365
