15:05 Curragh

Saturday 20 July 2024

All13:3014:0014:3515:0515:4016:1516:5017:25

Barberstown Castle Sapphire Stakes (Group 2)

Off time: 15:07 | Winning time: 57.96s

(1)

Twilight Jet^b²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Colin Keane| T: M O'Callaghan| OR: 102| D

25/1

Useful gelding. Visored for 1st time, bit below form eighth of 16 in C&D handicap (good, 22/1) 20 days ago. Good second in Naas listed prior to that but bit to find in this company.

Form: 180-928

(6)

Ano Syra²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Dylan Browne McMonagle| T: J Feane| OR: 105| CD

22/1

Useful mare. C&D winner. Fourteen runs since last win in 2022. Bit below form ½-length second of 7 to My Mate Alfie in listed race at this course (6f, good, 11/2) 20 days ago.

Form: 00-4392

(7)

Believing^t²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: R L Moore| T: G Boughey| OR: 111| BF| D

1/1

Smart filly. Won 5f Haydock listed race in May. Fourth in 2 Group 1s at Royal Ascot last month. Leading claims back in slightly calmer waters.

Form: 30-9144

(2)

Makarova^p,t¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: H Crouch| T: E Walker| OR: 105| D

7/2

Smart mare. Career best when winning 8-runner Sprint Stakes (9/2) at Sandown (5f, soft) 14 days ago by ¾ length from Purosangue. Should go well again.

Form: 66-7271

(5)

So Majestic^h,t²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Chris Hayes| T: Miss K McGivern| OR: 93| D

100/1

Useful filly. Eleven runs since last win in 2023. Respectable 2¼ lengths third of 7 to Azure Blue in listed race (25/1) at Ayr (5f, good to firm) 28 days ago. Plenty to find on form.

Form: 554383

(4)

Jakajaro²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Luke McAteer| T: D Marnane| OR: 100| C

33/1

Useful gelding. Course winner. Latest win at Dundalk in March. ¾-length fourth of 7 to My Mate Alfie in listed race at this course (6f, good, 6/1) 20 days ago, running on. Stiff task in this company.

Form: 7-14534

(8)

Valiant Force³²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: D Egan| T: A Murray| OR: 110| D

28/1

Smart colt. First run back with former yard after a spell in US when down the field in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot (5f, good to firm) 32 days ago. Has plenty to find with Believing on that form.

Form: 152-240

(3)

Beautiful Diamond²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: S H James| T: K R Burke| OR: 102| D

5/1

Useful filly who gained a second 5f listed success at Ayr when dead heating with Azure Blue 4 weeks ago. Her stable won this with Havana Grey in 2018.

Form: 351-351

(9)

She's Quality¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Ronan Whelan| T: J Davison| OR: 105| D

7/1

Much improved in recent weeks, posting smart performances when winning Down Royal handicap and Tipperary conditions race (both 5f). Looks up to making her presence felt at a higher level for a yard with winning form in this race.

Form: 562411

Forecasts

Believing (1/1), Makarova (7/2), Beautiful Diamond (5/1), She's Quality (7/1), Ano Syra (22/1), Twilight Jet (25/1), Valiant Force (28/1), Jakajaro (33/1), So Majestic (100/1)

British-trained sprinters can come to the fore, with BELIEVING very much the one to beat if reproducing anything like the form she showed when fourth in a Group 1 over this trip at Royal Ascot last month. Makarova did it nicely at Sandown a fortnight ago and is second choice ahead of Jack Davison's thriving 3-y-o She's Quality.