GRAEME Johnston (@GraemeJ_83) had such a strong view on Sunday's Pretty Polly Stakes he wanted to share it.
16:30 Curragh | At The Races
What a race we have in store on Sunday with the Pretty Polly stakes at the Curragh. The 1000 Guineas winners from England and Ireland clash in a race made all the more interesting with the unbeaten four year old Brooch and Diamondsandrubies who looked slightly unlucky in the Oaks also lining up.
We will start with the Dermot Weld trained Brooch. Unbeaten in four starts she is stepping up in trip here and her breeding tells us this should suit. Her sole start this year resulted in an effortless victory in a Group 2 for fillies over a mile. She looks like a top class filly, but I'm not sure if she is good enough to give 11 lbs to the Classic generation so I'm opposing her here.
Diamondsandrubies looked unlucky not to finish closer to Legatissimo last time where she was the worst effected by trouble in a what was a rough Epsom Oaks. However I don't think she's screaming out for a drop back in trip and if she was to turn the tables I would expect it to be over 12 furlongs. Even with the improved stable form at Ballydoyle since Epsom I don't expect her to win this.
Ribbons and Secret Gesture are another couple of older mares that deserve their place in the field, but as I have said before I firmly believe this is a high class group of three year old fillies and the winner will come from either Legatissimo or Pleascach.
Legatissimo was a good winner of the 1000 Guineas before going down narrowly to Qualify in the Oaks. She looked like she was going to win, she had made a race winning move two furlongs from home only to be nailed on the line. She's the deserved favourite for this over what will prove to be her optimum trip, but as I have stated before there is a filly in this I believe is a little bit special.
Pleascach won the Irish 1000 Guineas before heading to Ascot for the Ribblesdale over 12 furlongs. I fancied her that day and she was somewhat disappointing, but there were reasons for that defeat. The race was run at a crawl early doors and Pleascach refused to settle. She pulled her way through the opening half mile and she done well to see the trip out as well as she did.
The trip that day was possibly beyond Pleascach, and she has previously won emphatically over today's distance. I fully expect today's race to be run at a good pace (Secret Gesture and possibly Diamondsandrubies will set a strong pace) and that will help Pleascach settle. I refuse to believe that was Pleascach's true form was run at Ascot, and I cannot turn down the 13/2 on offer for her to win this.
Best Bets
16:30 Curragh – Pleascach to win (13/2 Coral)
