HAVING been in terrific form for the past couple of months, Jessica Harrington surely has all fingers and toes crossed that her excellent run can roll on to Royal Ascot in 10 days’ time.
Ahead of Friday evening’s action at Fairyhouse, the Commonstown team had struck with no fewer than 23 winners in the space of just over six weeks. Assisted by stable jockey Shane Foley riding at the top of his game, Harrington is in fact second in the Irish flat trainers’ championship at present.
A prize money haul of over €655,000 so far in the campaign was boosted this week by the victory of Fleur De Chine in the inaugural running of the €200,000 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Gowran Classic, and a Curragh double on Wednesday.
There are opportunities for more big-race success on both sides of the Irish Sea for the multiple Group 1-winning operation today.
Bluedrum, the mount of Foley, must have a big chance in the Listed Darley Irish EBF Kooyonga Stakes (3.30) at Navan on the basis of her strong maiden win at Naas last autumn. Among her beaten rivals on that occasion were Keeper’s Heart (rated 102), Chicago Critic (97), Gallantly (88), Ozark Daze (87) and Ridhaz (86).
Serialise, winner of a Naas maiden last month, is another lightly raced contender for the stable and will be ridden by Nathan Crosse.
Harrington told The Irish Field: “They’re both nice fillies. We declared Bluedrum to run in the Irish 1000 Guineas but didn’t end up running her because of the ground turning on the soft side. I ran her on testing ground in the Athasi Stakes on her first start of the season, and it looked as though her wheels were spinning on it. We’re looking forward to running her over a mile this weekend.
“It was good to see Serialise win her maiden at Naas the other day. She’s got to come forward from that as she steps up into a listed race, but Bluedrum has to step forward too.”
The Moone-based operation will also be keeping an eye on proceedings at Haydock today, with Starry Heavens in action in the Group 3 Betfred Lester Piggott Fillies’ Stakes (3.00) over a mile and a half. A progressive filly last season, winning the Connacht Oaks Fillies & Mares Handicap off 87 before scoring in listed company at ParisLongchamp, she heads to Merseyside on the back of a solid third in the Listed Orby Stakes at the Curragh last month.
Harrington said: “Jamie Spencer rides Starry Heavens for us. I’d imagine we’ll make plenty of use of her. She seemed to run better for us when doing that on better ground. We’re hoping for the best.”
Looking ahead to the Royal Meeting, Harrington is assembling a useful squad for the world-famous fixture. On some of her possible Royal Ascot runners, Harrington said: “Givemethebeatboys is on track for the Commonwealth Cup. I’ve been delighted with him since the Lacken Stakes. All being well, Sea The Boss will go for the Ribblesdale Stakes. I thought she did it well at Naas last time and looked as though she needed a step up to a mile and a half.
“Villanova Queen heads to the Kensington Palace again after winning it last year. Birdman goes for the Queen’s Vase. He’s very exciting. We’re looking at the Buckingham Palace Stakes for Kings Time too.”
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