14:00 Curragh

Sunday 19 July 2020

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:1516:4517:1517:45

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden (Plus 10)

Off time: 14:02 | Winning time: 1m 27.31s

(9)

April Showers

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: G M Ryan⁽⁵⁾| T: Donnacha O'Brien

12/1

Homebred. Full sister to Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Misty For Me, juvenile Group 1 winner Ballydoyle and Listed winner Twirl (1m1f). Very regal pedigree and one to note on debut for in-form trainer.

Form:

(8)

Creative Mojo²⁷

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: W J Lee| T: A Oliver

200/1

Cost just €6,000 as a yearling. Dam was a winner over 1m and has some winning substance in pedigree but no show on debut at Roscommon (7f) last month. Tough task in front of her in this.

Form: 0

(10)

Emaniya

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: O J Orr| T: D K Weld

9/1

Homebred. Half-sister to 1m winner Embiran. Dam was a group winner over 7f who is closely related to Group 1 winners Ebadiyla and Estimate. Yard can ready one for their debut so not to be discounted.

Form:

(1)

Fermoy

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: T P Madden| T: Mrs J Harrington

33/1

65,000 gns yearling. Dam was a winner between 6f and 1m (including Group 3) and a half-sister to 1m winner Sharisse. Not the most taking pedigree in the field and looks to be stable's second string for debut.

Form:

(2)

Forge Road

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: Ronan Whelan| T: R O'Brien

80/1

Returned to vendor for €14,000 as a yearling. Closely related to 1m4f winner Shifting Gold. Dam was a 6f winner who is related to Group 2 winner Duntle. Yard not typically known to strike with these sorts on debut so best watched.

Form:

(5)

Loch Lein

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: S Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington

15/2

Returned to vendor for 350,000 gns as a yearling. Full sister to 5f juvenile winner Pedastal and related to smart US types, including Grade 1 winner Bandini. Yard's first choice in this race. Interesting contender.

Form:

(6)

Madame Masson⁹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: Robbie Colgan| T: Miss S J Harty

125/1

French Navy filly out of a 5f winning dam. Was stoked along early and never a factor when ninth of 10 in 6f maiden at this track nine days ago. Plenty required in to land a blow in this.

Form: 9

(7)

Sister Rosetta²¹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons

11/4

Awtaad filly. Dwelt at the start on debut but defied that to be short-head second in C&D maiden last month. Likely to be more street-wise or this so is on the shortlist.

Form: 2

(4)

Snowfall²¹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| BF

8/13

Twice-raced maiden whose dam is a sister to crack performer Found. Failed to build on promising debut when only eighth in C&D maiden last month, but cannot discount any sort like this from this yard.

Form: 38

(3)

Star Image¹⁸

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: Ben Coen⁽³⁾| T: T Mullins

80/1

Sea The Stars filly. Became detached early on and didn't make up ground when ninth in 7f Leopardstown maiden at the start of the month. This looks hot enough so makes limited appeal.

Form: 9

Forecasts

Snowfall (8/13), Sister Rosetta (11/4), Loch Lein (15/2), Emaniya (9/1), April Showers (12/1), Fermoy (33/1), Star Image (80/1), Forge Road (80/1), Madame Masson (125/1), Creative Mojo (200/1)

A race which looks like it may throw up an above-standard juvenile, the one who stands out on pedigree alone is APRIL SHOWERS. She is bred from the line of two top-level winners between 1m and 1m2f and while her trainer doesn't strike often with first-time out debutantes, she is bred to be a top-class performer and worth taking a chance on her being so. The best course form is offered by Sister Rosetta given her narrow reverse here last time, the step up in trip and natural progression should see her go close, while the likes of Emaniya and Loch Lein are noted given the regal bloodlines in their continental pedigrees. If Snowfall bounces back to her debut form, she won't be far away.