Snow Fairy is one of the shining examples of how the new distaff program in
Europe has benefited racing as a whole and she looks to put the boys in the
shade in Saturday’s Group 1 Irish Champion at Leopardstown.
Despite being short of her absolute best on her return from a serious tendon
injury in Deauville’s Group 1 Prix Jean Romanet over the same 1 1/4-mile trip
August 19, the five-year-old still managed to put a clutch of Group 1 winners in
their place. On that evidence, there is a chance that she could be better than
ever as she attempts to go one better than her second to So You Think here 12
months ago.
“She’s come out of her last race incredibly well and didn’t lose a huge
amount of weight going to France and back,” trainer Ed Dunlop commented. “She is
fresh and well and Frankie (Dettori) was happy with her when he rode her in a
piece of work the other day.
“Probably the best run of her life came here last year against So You Think,
so the track suits and the ground is drying up dramatically. We’re under no
illusions, as it’s as competitive a race as last year. She’s not like normal
horses, who would have been retired with the injury she had — she has a huge
will to win and is very tough and she quickens well, but this is going to be a
stiff stamina test.”
Snow Fairy’s presence could mean that for the second run in succession,
Nathaniel is denied a top-level victory by a member of the female brigade
following his nose defeat by Danedream in the Group 1 King George VI and Queen
Elizabeth at Ascot July 21. He had previously beaten the solid yardstick Farhh
in Sandown’s Group 1 Eclipse July 7, but this is the first time that he has
tackled this trip on fast ground.
“He’s in good order, but this is very much a prep for the (Group 1 Prix de
l’Arc de Triomphe),” trainer John Gosden explained. “He’s in form, but he’s not
really fully wound up for a race like this.”
The likely surface will help St Nicholas Abbey, who tries again at this
distance following his third behind Frankel and Farhh in the Group 1 Juddmonte
International at York August 22. The dual Group 1 Coronation Cup and Grade 1
Breeders’ Cup Turf hero needs to prove he is as effective at this intermediate
trip, but he has never looked short of speed and Aidan O’Brien’s remarkable
record of seven wins since the millennium year means that he is worthy of
maximum respect.
Born to Sea demonstrated stamina when running Camelot to two lengths in the
Group 1 Irish Derby at The Curragh June 30, but his subsequent 6 1/2-length
defeat by Famous Name in the Group 2 Royal Whip over this trip at that Kildare
venue leaves him with something to find here.
Last year’s winner Emulous bids for back-to-back renewals of the Group 1
Matron on Saturday with a question to answer following her latest flop at Royal
Ascot. Only seventh when favorite in the Group 2 Windsor Forest June 20, Khalid
Abdullah’s five-year-old had previously offered evidence that she was as good as
last year when annexing The Curragh’s Group 3 Ridgewood Pearl May 26 and a
subsequent break may have freshened her.
“She’s a better filly in the autumn and the ground was maybe a little too
fast for her at Royal Ascot,” trainer Dermot Weld told PA Sport. “I’d always
planned an autumn campaign for her and this is the start of it. She was very
good in this last year and let’s hope she can be as good this year. She loves a
bit of ease in ground, so I wouldn’t want to see the Leopardstown ground drying
out too much but hopefully it will be beautiful ground.”
Of the three-year-olds, Maybe tries again after a disappointing fifth in the
Group 1 Falmouth at Newmarket July 13. Lack of match practice and trip may have
been the excuses for her previous flops in the Group 1 One Thousand Guineas at
Newmarket and Group 1 Oaks, but she ran flat on her latest start and has been
rested since.
Another sophomore with claims is Duntle, who overcame testing ground to beat
Ballybacka Lady in the August 16 Desmond over the Matron one-mile course and
distance, while the Group 2 Prix de Sandringham winner Laugh Out Loud is another
back from a break after a latest flop when sixth in the Group 1 Coronation at
Royal Ascot June 22.
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