17:25 Leopardstown

Saturday 14 September 2019

All13:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:2518:00

Coolmore 'Fastnet Rock' Matron Stakes (Group 1) (Fillies & Mares)

Off time: 17:25 | Winning time: 1m 38.81s

(7)

I Can Fly²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: J A Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 112| BF| CD

6/1

Won the Boomerang Stakes at this meeting last year and has been running well in defeat in Group 1 company in recent starts. Needs a bit more to land her first Group 1 but drop back in trip will help and she's versatile with regards to ground.

Form: 623334

(2)

Laurens²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: P J McDonald| T: K R Burke| OR: 116| BF| CD

1/1

Won this race last year and returned with a good second in the Lockinge prior to winning the Group 1 Prix Rothschild at Deauville. Only narrowly denied in a Group 2 at York last time but she will relish this step back up in trip; hard to beat.

Form: 18-2612

(3)

Happen^t⁴³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: E J McNamara| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 103| C

33/1

Won her maiden here and landed a Group 3 at the Curragh in May but limitations perhaps exposed since. Seemed to appreciate quick ground when runner-up at Saratoga last time but more needed back on home turf.

Form: 41-2162

(6)

Hermosa⁴⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 116| BF| D

7/2

Impressive 1,000 Guineas winner at Newmarket and ran to a similar level when landing the Irish equivalent next time out. Beaten at Royal Ascot and clearly wasn't herself when tailed off at Goodwood but it would be no surprise to see her bounce back.

Form: 22-1129

(4)

Iridessa⁵⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Wayne Lordan| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 111| D

10/1

Group 1 winning juvenile who stayed on gamely to win the Group 1 Pretty Poly Stakes at the Curragh in June. Disappointed last time back at that venue but she's better than that and warrants respect back down in trip here.

Form: 1-38417

(5)

Just Wonderful^h1⁴⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: O Murphy| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 110| D

12/1

Group 2 winner as a juvenile and while she's yet to get off the mark this year, she put up a solid effort when second in the Belmont Oaks. Failed to back that up at Goodwood though and yard have stronger claims with Hermosa. Wears first-time hood.

Form: 4-67825

(1)

Skitter Scatter¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Ronan Whelan| T: J M Oxx| OR: 112| BF| C

14/1

Progressed through the ranks as a juvenile, culminating in a Group 1 success at the Curragh. However, signs she hadn't trained on in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket and failed to justify a drop in class at Tipperary last time; this is tougher.

Form: 2111-02

Forecasts

Laurens (1/1), Hermosa (7/2), I Can Fly (6/1), Iridessa (10/1), Just Wonderful (12/1), Skitter Scatter (14/1), Happen (33/1)

LAURENS is as consistent as they come and she can land back-to-back renewals of this race provided she's at her best. The danger to the selection is Hermosa who has been given a break since disappointing at Goodwood last time; it's likely this sort of trip will bring out the best in the filly at some point. Iridessa is a live each-way player if she can find her Pretty Polly form.