THE conditions on Sunday at the Curragh were a complete contrast to Saturday when La Petite Coco (117) won in determined fashion to provide Paddy Twomey with a first Group 1 success in the Pretty Polly Stakes.
The weather played havoc with conditions with the race preceding the feature contest run in torrential rain, turning the underfoot conditions soft making the round track races a test of stamina rather than speed.
Billy Lee is riding with supreme confidence at present and was again seen to great effect on the winner, sitting close to the pace before delivering his winning challenge as front runner Lyrical Poetry faded.
The extreme test was confirmed by the closing sectional of 39.66secs, a full three seconds slower than Westover in the Derby.
My Astra (116) closed off slightly faster, without ever looking likely to deny the brave winner and the daughter of Lope De Vega thrives in soft ground and looks likely to stay further as well.
Paddy Twomey was denied third place with Rosscarberry (114) due to a technicality although his filly, who began her winning sequence off a mark of just 81, looked at home in pattern company and will also stay further.
Seahorse progressive
Hms Seahorse (104) was a facile winner of the following handicap and, although his time figure was short of the Group 1 performers, an eased down closing sectional of 39.86secs marks him down as a progressive flat performer.
The four-year-old is reported as being on target for Galway with his options including the Galway Hurdle or a Premier Handicap on the flat over a similar trip.
The visual impression created by Cougar (96+) in the festival finale was very taking and his closing sectional of 37.25secs confirmed he was making light of the underfoot conditions.
The time-figure was the slowest of the round track races, although close enough to Hms Seahorse to take a chance on the son of Deep Impact following up when granted similar conditions.
Top-class Statuette
The Group 2 Airlie Stud Stakes saw Statuette (104+) confirm herself as a top-class filly with the feature of her performance a rapid closing sectional when compared to smooth handicap winner Coumshingaun (106).
Admittedly it would have been more satisfactory if the overall time was faster than handicap, although with the comparable sectionals 35.96secs versus 37.12secs I am prepared to overlook the disparity, while also suggesting a positive view can be taken of Kevin Coleman’s winner.
Ryan Moore would no doubt have wished for more cover for his filly given the wind which buffeted the field. However, it mattered not in the final reckoning as, when asked for her finishing effort, the daughter of Justify quickly turned a three-quarter-length deficit into the same as a winning distance.
The time-figure is supported by Babd (101) running to the same level as when winning at Cork and Matilda Picotte (98) improving slightly on her course and distance success on her debut.
Zarinsk (96+) is not a filly to give up on quite yet as she was marooned on the far side rail when first mounting a challenge, her closing sectionals backed up the visual impression she was closing as the line loomed.
Dramatised (111+ Ascot) remains my top rated two-year-old filly.
Levins pair
With regard to the handicap, I will add the Johnny Levins pair of Nordic Passage (100) and Shawaamekh (98) to the tracker. The former boasts a solid record at flat headquarters over five and six furlongs when there is cut in the ground, while the latter looks ready to strike again when stepped back up to seven furlongs.
Ano follows up
Ano Syra (101+) emerged from the torrential rain to win the Rockingham Handicap and follow up on her recent course and distance success.
As the race was run during the change in weather it is difficult to assess, although I would suggest Big Gossey (99) as a tracker entry given how he almost defied the high-draw bias which dominated the straight-track races.