15:45 Curragh

Saturday 22 August 2020

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

A.R.M. Holding Debutante Stakes (Fillies Group 2)

Off time: 15:47 | Winning time: 1m 28.53s

(5)

Finest¹⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: P B Beggy| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 83| D

100/1

Winner at Limerick in July. 50/1, 12 lengths seventh of 8 to Shale in Silver Flash Stakes at Leopardstown (7f, good to firm) 16 days ago. Yard saddles stronger candidates in Mother Earth and Snowfall.

Form: 53517

(4)

Meala²⁵

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| D

9/2

11/4, career best when running away with an 8-runner maiden at Galway (7f, good to soft) 25 days ago. Visually impressive on that occasion and she doesn't look out of place at this level.

Form: 4321

(1)

Miramis

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

100/1

Foaled April 12. Closely related to useful winner up to 1m Another Story and half-sister to 3 winners, including 2-y-o 7f winner Breaking Story. Thrown in very much at the deep end for this debut.

Form:

(3)

Mother Earth³⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: J A Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 103

5/1

Winner at Naas in July. 1¾ lengths third of 4 to Aloha Star in Airlie Stud Stakes here (6f, good, evens) 34 days ago. This step up in trip looks a good move and yard has a fine record in this race.

Form: 2313

(2)

Palifico²⁷

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

18/1

Twice-raced maiden. Third of 18 in maiden here (6f, good to soft, 5/2) 27 days ago. Sizeable step forward needed in this company but yard landed this race last year and she's open to improvement.

Form: 23

(8)

Pretty Gorgeous¹⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: S M Crosse| T: J P O'Brien| BF

3/1

Twice-raced winner. 1½ lengths second of 8 to Shale in Silver Flash Stakes (2/1) at Leopardstown (7f, good to firm) 16 days ago. Should progress, particularly when faced with a stiffer test.

Form: 12

(7)

Shale¹⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: G M Ryan| T: Donnacha O'Brien| OR: 105| D

7/4

Promising sort. Won 8-runner Silver Flash Stakes (14/1) at Leopardstown (7f, good to firm) 16 days ago by 1½ lengths from Pretty Gorgeous, well positioned. Leading contender.

Form: 611

(6)

Snowfall¹⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 92| CD

7/1

Lightly-raced winner. 3/1, creditable 5 lengths fourth of 8 to Shale in Silver Flash Stakes at Leopardstown (7f, good to firm) 16 days ago, never nearer. Remains open to improvement.

Form: 3814

Forecasts

Shale (7/4), Pretty Gorgeous (3/1), Meala (9/2), Mother Earth (5/1), Snowfall (7/1), Palifico (18/1), Miramis (100/1), Finest (100/1)

SHALE was nicely on top at the finish when getting the better of Pretty Gorgeous and 6 others, including Snowfall and Finest, in the Silver Flash at Leopardstown. Donnacha O'Brien's filly is very promising indeed and is taken to emerge on top once again. Pretty Gorgeous already looks in need of 1m+ and Mother Earth and runaway Galway maiden winner Meala may emerge as the main dangers this time.