17:15 Cork

Sunday 5 July 2020

All14:3015:0515:4016:1016:4517:1517:45

Munster Oaks Stakes (Fillies' And Mares' Group 3)

Off time: 17:15 | Winning time: 2m 36.41s

(5)

Search For A Song^h1²³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: O J Orr| T: D K Weld| OR: 115| BF| D

4/1

York Listed race winner before landing the Irish St Ledger last season; ran as though she needed run at the Curragh last month in a Group 2 contest; gives weight away here but excellent chance nonetheless in first-time hood.

Form: 12411-6

(3)

True Self^h1⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: W P Mullins| OR: 110| CD

6/1

Tough, consistent and globetrotting mare; possibly needed outing recently at the Curragh and should be sharper here; might want further than this these day but interesting sporting a hood for the first time.

Form: 6217-64

(2)

Hamariyna²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Ronan Whelan| T: M Halford| OR: 102

14/1

Group 3 winner at Leopardstown last year and only narrowly denied on her return at Naas in Group 3 company before filling same position at the Curragh in June; capable of improvement and one to note.

Form: 3118-22

(1)

Loveisthehigherlaw²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Billy Lee| T: P Twomey| OR: 99| C

12/1

Won her first two races last year in game style, and improved again when fourth of 12 to Solage in a 1½m Listed race at Naas on final start; showed she had trained on with useful performance at Leopardstown in June; another for the shortlist.

Form: 114-3

(7)

Maria Christina^p⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: R P Downey| T: D K Weld| OR: 71| D

250/1

Winner of a heavy-ground Naas maiden (1m4f; 9-2) on fourth start back in November; yet to replicate that form on two starts this season which will be a concern for connections.

Form: 4/251-80

(9)

Princess Yaiza²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Chris Hayes| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 103| D

11/1

Won G2 Prix de Royallieu at Longchamp as a 3-y-o, but missed last year; not been at her best on two starts since returning but should be sharper here and no forlorn hope,

Form: 2219/24

(10)

Snapraeceps¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Declan McDonogh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 99

40/1

Best effort was a 3½L second in a Group 3 at Gowran Park last September; warmed up for this with fair effort at same track last month; possibilities but others have better form.

Form: 02659-3

(6)

Winiata¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Shane Kelly| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 93

66/1

Wins her fair share of races but best form is a placed effort in a Listed contest at Gowran Park and looks a little bit below the level to land this.

Form: 41137-8

(4)

Salsa^b¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Ben Coen| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 88

16/1

Five-race maiden, runner-up behind stablemate Snow in 1m2f maiden here on reappearance but very disappointing next time in Leopardstown Group 2 over same trip when fancied; steps up in trip and perhaps that will be the key.

Form: 666-28

(11)

Snow¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 105

11/4

Got off the mark on penultimate start when nicely scoring in 1m2f Curragh maiden; fair performance next time when upped in class and it will be interesting how she copes with this step up in trip.

Form: 84-12

(8)

Yaxeni¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| C

3/1

Once-raced filly who made perfect start to career with game victory at this track (1m, soft) in August; did not get the run of the race on only other appearance at Leopardstown last month; open to plenty of improvement.

Form: 1-3

Forecasts

Snow (11/4), Yaxeni (3/1), Search For A Song (4/1), True Self (6/1), Princess Yaiza (11/1), Loveisthehigherlaw (12/1), Hamariyna (14/1), Salsa (16/1), Snapraeceps (40/1), Winiata (66/1), Maria Christina (250/1)

The Aiden O'Brien stable has won four out of the last six runnings of this contest and a slight preference in a competitive contest goes to SNOW. The filly ran well in defeat last time at Leopardstown and looks likely to be suited by this step up in trip given the way she raced that day. Search For A Song fitted with a hood for the first time has shown plenty of class in the past and will be much fitter than on her seasonal reappearance run at the Curragh last month and this represents a step back in class. Older contestants don't have a great record in this race but True Self is a tough cookie and should be ready to run a big race.