2.45 Coolmore America ‘Justify’ Matron Stakes (Group 1) 1m
Homeless Songs: NON-RUNNER Brilliant filly when at her best, as evidenced when blitzing her rivals in last year’s Irish 1000 Guineas, but winless in her three starts since then, including when fourth as 5/4 favourite for this race 12 months ago. Improvement required from her close second in a listed race here behind Buckaroo in April but interesting to see trainer roll the dice with her here when he already has Tahiyra. Officially the highest-rated runner so should be bang there if back to her best, but that is a big ‘if’.
Jumbly: Joined Joseph O’Brien after selling for 1,250,000gns last November and has been running respectably this season without setting the world alight. No match for a well-ridden Just Beautiful in a Curragh Group 2 in May before slightly underwhelming fourth at Royal Ascot behind Rogue Millenium and Prosperous Voyage. This looks tougher than the Saratoga Grade 2 she was a close third in 16 days ago but classy operator on her day.
Just Beautiful: Appears to be at her best on quick ground over a mile so could well have her optimum conditions here. This 625,000gns purchase delivered a career-best performance when two and a quarter lengths too good for Jumbly at the Curragh in May and hasn’t been seen since. Further improvement required to make the breakthrough on her first start in Group 1 company but lightly campaigned since joining Paddy Twomey, who won this race last year with Pearls Galore.
Prosperous Voyage: Lively British contender who could show up well at an each-way price. Clearly effective on good ground over a mile, as seen when upsetting Inspiral in last year’s Falmouth Stakes and when runner-up in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket. Hasn’t been able to match that form this season, though did win a Group 3 at Epsom in June. Blinkers tried for the first time after finishing down the field on rain-softened ground in the Falmouth last time.
Rogue Millennium: British-trained four-year-old enjoyed her biggest success in the Group 2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes this summer at Royal Ascot, with Prosperous Voyage and Jumbly in behind. Possibly not at her very best on soft ground last time when beaten five and three quarters of a length in the Group 1 Prix Rothschild but concerning that she has never been placed in any of her three attempts at top-level contests.
Cadeau Belle: Useful three-year-old has followed up her debut maiden win at Gowran in May by landing a listed event at Navan the following month, but disappointing when last in Group 3 contest at Ascot in late July (SP 15/8 favourite). Keen on that occasion so not a shock that hood is now tried for the first time. Stable won this with Champers Elysees in 2020 but plenty of improvement required if this 99-rated filly is to cause an upset.
Clever And Cool: Solid type fresh from a career-best performance when outstaying Matilda Picotte over an extended seven furlongs in the Group 3 Fairy Bridge Stakes at Tipperary last weekend. That effort suggested she could be up to staying this trip as previously had looked better at a furlong shorter. Another step up required to make her presence felt in this company.
Gozen: Breeze-up recruit looked a promising two-year-old last season, winning on debut at Punchestown before probably not ideally suited by how race unfolded when runner-up in Curragh Group 3 won by Lumiere Rock in October. Keenness didn’t help her cause when stepping up to 10 furlongs on her return from a 309-day break last time and connections now fit a hood. This looks a very stiff task at this stage of her career.
Meditate: Royal Ascot-winning two-year-old was unbeaten in her first four starts before finding Tahiyra too hot to handle at this festival last year. Back in the winner’s enclosure before the end of the year when winning over a mile at the Breeders’ Cup last November, but hasn’t fully convinced that she stays this trip on stiffer tracks. Has come up short against Tahiyra in three more meetings this season and hopes for her turning the tables are hung on the fact she was said to have done extremely well physically for a break since down the field in the Prix Jean Prat. Blinkers also added.
Ocean Jewel: Smart filly who showed a liking for this track when winning seven-furlong Group 3 here in June. Possibly not as effective when back to a straight six furlongs at Naas 13 days ago and finishing a safely-held fifth, but has stamina to prove at a mile now, and needs to raise her game on first Group 1 start. Her half sister Mother Earth was an unlucky third in this race two years ago.
Olivia Maralda: Kodiac filly didn’t look the strongest of stayers on only previous start over a mile when seventh in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket and is probably a notch below Group 1 company. Should relish the sound surface on offer, though, and is officially the joint-fourth best filly in the race on ratings.
Tahiyra: Last season’s European champion juvenile filly has not disappointed at three, only finding the much more experienced Mawj too good in the 1000 Guineas before sluicing up in the Irish equivalent and readily landing the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. This race has been identified as her first autumn target since and connections have been happy with her progress in the interim. Stablemate Homeless Song was turned over at a short price in this race last year but hard to fault this beautifully bred filly.
Zarinsk: Useful at two, signing off last season with a win in the Ingabelle Stakes on this card 12 months ago, but has progressed nicely as the current campaign has gone on. A haul of two Group 3s and a Group 2 have come from her last four starts, and clearly has a liking for this track. Possible she may not have the natural talent of some rivals like Tahiyra but is rock solid and should be relied on to give her running and threaten the frame.
Conclusion
It’s tough to look beyond Tahiyra, who arrives here with the most complete CV and has the potential to be a cut above these rivals if not lacking any sharpness on her return from a mid-season break. Stablemate Homeless Songs isn’t the easiest to assess given her lack of recent action but market confidence behind her would be interesting to note. Of those at bigger prices for an each-way alternative, Prosperous Voyage hails from a stable in outstanding form and has a bit of back class. She could outrun her odds of 33/1 in first-time blinkers.