RACING:IF THE forecasters are correct tomorrow's Curragh action could take place on near-perfect ground conditions, a rarity this season, and something that makes forecasting a Moyglare Stud Stakes winner nearly as problematic as John Oxx's current jockey dilemmas.
Johnny Murtagh’s axing by the Aga Khan sees Shane Foley team up with Alanza in today’s Matron Stakes at Leopardstown, while Pat Smullen has been drafted in for the Moyglare ride on the Oxx first-string, Harasiya, tomorrow.
Elsewhere over the weekend, Declan McDonogh rides for the Curragh trainer, as do regulars like Ben Curtis and Niall McCullagh, not to mention Murtagh himself on Born To Sea in the Champion Stakes.
If it sounds a logistical headache, then there could be Group One relief in betting on the Oxx second-string Karamaya springing a surprise in Ireland’s most valuable race for juvenile fillies.
It is just a couple of weeks since the daughter of Invincible Spirit made a winning debut at HQ, running on noticeably well to just win a maiden on desperately heavy ground.
Oxx afterwards nominated a Group Three as a possible next target so it looks significant she is being pitched into the top-flight so soon, especially with Harasiya, on the book, already looking a major player.
Harasiya came up just short in the Debutante Stakes behind My Special J’s who will ridden by Murtagh since Colm O’Donoghue is on board another of the €22,500 supplementary entries, Sendmylovetorose.
All of those fillies though have been showing high-class form on soft ground, so it looks like being a different ball-game now.
Karamaya is bred to relish much better going and a longer trip so the call to run her in this race is one to note.
Despite an elusive Group One prize possibly waiting for Famous Name in Italy at the end of the month, Dermot Weld isn’t letting his stable stalwart go idle and the admirable seven-year-old can go in again in the Group Three Solonaway Stakes.
Nahrain has looked a shadow of herself this season so Up looks a bet on decent ground to land the Group Two Blandford Stakes. Her Prix Morny runner-up stable companion George Vancouver will also be hard to beat.
