15:30 Curragh

Saturday 28 June 2025

All13:1513:4514:2014:5515:3016:0516:4017:15

Paddy Power Pretty Polly Stakes (Fillies' And Mares' Group 1)

Off time: 15:31 | Winning time: 2m 4.95s

(3)

Higher Leaves⁶²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Shane Foley| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 109| D

66/1

Useful filly dictated to win a 9-runner fillies listed race at Longchamp (10.4f) on final start of last season but was again found out in better company when last in the Prix Ganay on reappearance. Will be suited by a return to fillies/mares company but needs to improve to land this.

Form: 58131-6

(5)

Jancis³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Ben Coen| T: W McCreery| OR: 105

33/1

Dual 7f winner at Leopardstown and wasn't disgraced in the Matron Stakes there last September. Creditable runner-up in a Listed race on reappearance at Gowran (9.5f) prior to not being seen to best effect back over 1m in a Group 2 last time. Could improve for 10f but this is a step up in class.

Form: 118-25

(6)

Kalpana³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Colin Keane| T: A M Balding| OR: 118| D

5/6

Very smart filly who won 5 times in 2024, signing off with a career best in the Fillies' & Mares' Stakes at Ascot (11.6f, soft) in October. Picked up where she left off on reappearance when 1½ lengths third behind Los Angeles in the Tattersalls Gold Cup here. Can make a bold bid for another Group 1.

Form: 23111-3

(4)

Magical Hope¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Billy Lee| T: P Twomey| OR: 103| D

20/1

Sold for €500,000 out of H-A. Pantall's yard and has hit the ground running for the in-form Paddy Twomey stable, showing much improved form when placed in a 12f Listed race on debut and didn't need to improve when kept up to her work to land the Munster Oaks at Cork. Respected but this is tougher.

Form: 1160-31

(2)

Survie⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: S Pasquier| T: Nicolas Clement & Flo Hermans| OR: 112

18/1

Just touched off in the Diane before landing a C&D Group 2 win at Longchamp last season. Well held in Group 1 company behind Bluestocking subsequently, for all she wasn't disgraced as the rank outsider in the Arc. Solid second in a Group 2 on reappearance but may fall short at the top level again.

Form: 32177-2

(1)

Wemightakedlongway²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Dylan Browne McMonagle| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 106| D

18/1

Improving filly enjoyed run of the race when making all to land the Group 3 Salsabil Stakes at Navan prior to a career best when well positioned to finish fourth in the Oaks, looking at home over the longer trip. Should be competitive back over 1¼m but her best days may come over 1½m next season.

Form: 313-514

(7)

Whirl²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 113| C| D

13/8

Took a marked forward from her reappearance run when a very impressive winner of the Musidora at York, a performance underpinned by the clock. Went with zest from the front when an improved runner-up behind stablemate Minnie Hawk in the Oaks earlier this month. That form sets the standard here.

Form: 511-612

Forecasts

Kalpana (5/6), Whirl (13/8), Survie (18/1), Wemightakedlongway (18/1), Magical Hope (20/1), Jancis (33/1), Higher Leaves (66/1)

An up-to-scratch renewal with two very smart fillies heading the market. Following her striking victory in the Musidora, WHIRL improved again when narrowly defeated by stablemate Minnie Hauk in the Oaks. She can land a first Group 1 success at the expense of Kalpana who was very progressive last season and arrives on the back of a very solid third in the Tattersalls Gold Cup. Survie chased home Arc runner-up Aventure on reappearance last month and may prove best of the rest.