CURRAGH

3:55 LODGE PARK STUD EUROPEAN BREEDERS FUND PARK EXPRESS STAKES (FILLIES) (GROUP 3) (3yo+) 1m

DANEHILL MUSIC 9-10 ~ A mile round the Curragh in heavy ground seems to be the ideal conditions for the David Wachman mare. She won this race two seasons ago and only just failed last year to concede a 3lbs penalty to the winner. She couldn’t repeat that performance in two subsequent runs on fast ground but once again when running over 1m on heavy ground at the Curragh she won a Listed race beating Hard Rock City. She has proven in this race twice that she goes well fresh and with ideal conditions today she should run a good race

DEAUVILL VISION 9-10 ~ Absolutely dotted up on this card last season but it was in the Irish Lincolnshire. Running off a mark of 89 she turned a competitive handicap into a precession but like Danehill Music she is a filly that needs soft ground and the softer the better. She didn’t really build on that effort till seen at Tralee at the back end of the season and she beat Crooked Throw and co by an eased down 8 lengths. If things go her way in this ground then she will be very hard to beat but she isn’t the most consistent. However she showed in the at this time last year that she goes well fresh so she could once again give a good account of herself.

JALMIRA 9-10 ~ Fit from the all weather but she would prefer better ground and against some mud lovers she will be up against it today.

TRULY MINE 9-10 ~ Finished 3rd in this race last year as a 3 year old but didn’t get the clearest of runs and it was only her second ever racecourse apperance. So she should be better for the experience she gained during her 3yo campaign. Also all her best efforts came here at the Curragh in a variety of ground conditions. She finished 5th in the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes which has proven to be excellent form. However she could need the run and might be better over further than a mile but the yard are in cracking form.

ICE QUEEN 8-9 ~ Interesting runner from Ballydoyle, she showed very little as a 2yo but is pitched straight into a Group company as a 3yo. Couldn’t be fancied on her 2yo form but has potentially any amount of improvement in her so any support in the mark could prove significant.

INDIANA GAL 8-9 ~ Only raced once on soft but beat Brazilian Star who had finished 2nd to New Approach in the Group 3 Tyros Stakes. However she was receiving 13lbs and of course New Approach has improved considerably on the bare form of the Tyros Stakes. She went on to finish 3rd in a Group 3 but was beaten out of sight by Savethisdanceforme in a Listed race over course and distance. She is fit from the all weather, where is won a weak race well but in this company she has plenty to find.

LUSH LASHES 8-9 ~ Produced a very impressive debut when beating a high class competitive field in the Goffs Fillies Million. Trainer has stated she was on a par with Finsceal Beo at the time of her win and she makes her 3yo debut here today. She is clearly a high class filly who is destined for bigger and better things but the ground is a complete unknown as her Curragh win was on fast ground.

MARJALINA 8-9 ~ An encouraging debut at Leopardstown towards the end of last season when she comfortably won her maiden. However a relatively cheap purchase and her breeding doesn’t isn’t overly impressive so although she could be anything chances are she will struggle to match the likes of Lush Lashes and Savethisdanceforme.

QUEEN JOCK 8-9 ~ Had a busy campaign last season when running mostly in Listed company. She is closely matched with Ice Queen but well held by Savethisdanceforme so has it all to do to reverse the form with the Ballydoyle filly. She has been to Dubai this winter where she ran a good race behind Fiesta Lady and Cocoa Beach but didn’t build on that next time out.

SAVETHISDANCEFORME 8-9 ~ Beaten favourite on her first two runs as a 2yo and then well down the field in a Listed event. However once she got her head in front at Dundalk she hasn’t looked back. 4th in the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac was a tremendous effort and she proved that to be no fluke by winning a Listed race over course and distance in impressive fashion. The way she quickened up to beat her nearest rival by 9 lengths marked her down as a filly to watch out for next season. The heavy ground is an unknown and it could blunt her turn of foot so that is a worry as is the fact she will probably need the run after 5 months off the track.

TINTEAN 8-9 ~ Looked fairly useless before winning a weak maiden but this is a completely different kettle of fish. Looks to be progressing at a fair rate but on what she has shown she must improve considerably even to be competitive.

CONCLUSION

Shortlist includes Danehill Music, Deauville Vision, Truly Mine, Lush Lashes and Savethisdanceforme.

This race is all about whether the class acts in the field Lush Lashes and Savethisdanceforme are A – fit and B – capable of handling this ground. This race isn’t the target for either so it could be that this is just a run out and both are unlikely to be beaten up. However they are receiving 15lbs from the older horses and the fact that they are clearly very talented should mean that they battle it out for victory. It will probably come down to who handles the conditions better and as neither have faced them it guesswork as to who will prevail.

Of the older horses Danehill Music has his conditions but he looks exposed and this is a tougher race than previous years. Deauville Vision wins impressively but horses who handle the conditions mostly do and after winning a handicap off a low mark and a weak Listed race at Tralee I feel the horse could struggle in this company. When he started favourite for a Listed race at the Curragh he looked outclassed by a competitive field when conditions should have been to his liking. Truly Mine who finished 3rd in this race last year has improved since that effort and if he can run up to the form he showed in the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes then he should be able to win the battle for 3rd. He always goes well here and as the most likely front runner in the race if he can grab the rail he could prove hard to pass in his first time blinkers.

1pt PLACE – TRULY MINE @ 5.5

RESULT

TRULY MINE 9th = -1pt