15:40 Curragh

Sunday 27 June 2021

All13:3014:0014:3015:0515:4016:1016:4517:20

Alwasmiyah Pretty Polly Stakes (Fillies' And Mares' Group 1)

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 2m 8.72s

(8)

Cayenne Pepper³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Shane Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 114| CD

11/4

Smart filly. C&D winner. Bit below form 9 lengths fourth of 8 to Helvic Dream in Tattersalls Gold Cup (8/1) at this course (10.5f, heavy) 35 days ago. Merits consideration.

Form: 22210-4

(2)

Epona Plays³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Billy Lee| T: W McCreery| OR: 110| C

8/1

Smart filly. Career best when winning 6-runner Lanwades Stud Stakes at this course (8f, soft, 9/2) 36 days ago by 4 lengths from Soul Search, kept up to work. Warrants plenty of respect.

Form: 4317-11

(6)

Insinuendo⁵⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Declan McDonogh| T: W McCreery| OR: 104| D

14/1

Thrice-raced winner. Won 7-runner Blue Wind Stakes (15/2) at Naas (10f, soft) 50 days ago by ¾ length from Thunder Kiss. Should improve further, so not without a chance up in grade.

Form: 1-31

(3)

Silence Please^p1¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: T P Madden| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 102| D

40/1

Useful filly. 11/2, creditable ¾-length second of 9 to Thunder Kiss in Munster Oaks at Cork (12f, good to soft) 18 days ago. Cheekpieces on 1st time. Has work to do.

Form: 1342-42

(7)

Thundering Nights²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: S M Crosse| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 110| C

16/5

Smart filly. 43/10, creditable short-head second of 9 to Mean Mary in Grade 2 New York Stakes at Belmont (10f, good to soft) 23 days ago, closing all way to line. Expected to be bang there.

Form: 1137-22

(4)

Oodnadatta²³³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Colin Keane| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 107

25/1

Useful filly. 352/10, 5¾ lengths ninth of 14 to Aunt Pearl in Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Keeneland (8f, good), never nearer. Off 7 months. Up in trip. Easy to look elsewhere.

Form: 1539-

(5)

Santa Barbara²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 108| BF| C

3/1

Thrice-raced winner. Course winner. 21¾ lengths fifth of 14 to Snowfall in Oaks (5/2) at Epsom (12f, soft) 23 days ago. Makes plenty of appeal down in trip.

Form: 1-45

(1)

Shale⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Gavin Ryan| T: Donnacha O'Brien| OR: 109| BF| C

13/2

Useful filly. Course winner. 13¼ lengths tenth of 11 to Alcohol Free in Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot (8f, soft, 17/2) 9 days ago. Up in trip. Yard in good form. Others more persuasive.

Form: 1216-50

Forecasts

Cayenne Pepper (11/4), Santa Barbara (3/1), Thundering Nights (16/5), Shale (13/2), Epona Plays (8/1), Insinuendo (14/1), Oodnadatta (25/1), Silence Please (40/1)

Though a slightly underwhelming favourite in the Oaks, SANTA BARBARA remains a potentially top-notch filly and this drop back in trip could bring the best out of her, so she's preferred to the more exposed Thundering Nights, who has actually achieved a bit more to this point. Epona Plays is a danger if she gets loose on the front end.