16:00 Curragh

Saturday 19 August 2023

All13:4514:2014:5215:2716:0016:3517:1017:40

Alpha Centauri Debutante Stakes (Fillies' Group 2)

Off time: 16:02 | Winning time: 1m 26.60s

(1)

Betula⁵⁰

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

20/1

Lope De Vega filly. Dam, Canadian 1m/8.5f winner, half-sister to high-class winner up to 1m Alpha Centauri. Having contested a barrier trial, showed plenty when fourth of 12 in a C&D maiden 50 days ago, not knocked about. Sure to improve but this is a big ask on just second start.

Form: 4

(3)

Dollerina⁵⁰

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: Dylan Browne McMonagle| T: J P O'Brien

9/2

Had contested a barrier trial in May and shaped with plenty of encouragement when second of 12 in maiden at this C&D (good) on debut 50 days ago, caught further back than ideal. Will improve and shouldn't be overlooked up in grade.

Form: 2

(8)

Kalispera¹⁸

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: Declan McDonogh| T: J P O'Brien

80/1

Twice-raced maiden. Third of 8 in maiden (7/1) at Galway (7f, soft) 18 days ago. Plenty to find on form up in grade.

Form: 43

(5)

Mysteries^h1²³

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: Gavin Ryan| T: Donnacha O'Brien

12/1

Thrice-raced winner. 3¾ lengths third of 6 in Silver Flash Stakes (9/2) at Leopardstown (7.2f, good to soft) 23 days ago. Hood on for 1st time. More needed.

Form: 313

(7)

Pearls And Rubies²⁸

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 99| BF

13/8

Bred to be smart and overcame inexperience to make a winning debut at Navan (5f) in June. Solid efforts up in grade since, unsuited by the drop in trip here (6.3f) on most recent outing, so the return to 7f will suit and she rates a big player.

Form: 122

(4)

Sakti²³

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

7/1

Produced a promising first effort when second of 13 in maiden at Leopardstown (7.2f, good to soft) on debut 23 days ago. That performance is backed up by the timefigure and she's open to improvement.

Form: 2

(2)

Snellen⁵⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: Gary Carroll| T: G P Cromwell| D

7/1

Built on her debut win when following up in 16-runner Chesham Stakes (12/1) at Royal Ascot (7f, good to firm) 56 days ago, just holding on. Open to further improvement.

Form: 11

(6)

Vespertilio²³

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: Billy Lee| T: W McCreery

4/1

Left debut form well behind up in grade when second in 6-runner Group 3 (18/1) at Leopardstown (7.2f, good to soft) 23 days ago, clear of rest. Open to further progress.

Form: 32

Forecasts

Pearls And Rubies (13/8), Vespertilio (4/1), Dollerina (9/2), Sakti (7/1), Snellen (7/1), Mysteries (12/1), Betula (20/1), Kalispera (80/1)

SAKTI shaped with lots of encouragement when runner-up in a strong-looking maiden at Leopardstown on her debut last month and, with the performance backed up by the timefigure, she's worth siding with to go one better up in grade. Vespertilio, Pearls And Rubies and Snellen are a trio of credible rivals however, while Dollerina shouldn't be taken lightly, either.