Latest news with #Matrice

Irish Examiner

Expect Jannah Star to improve and take Curragh victory

Curragh hosts a particularly good midweek programme, and the nap goes to Jannah Star, who can build on a promising first start by taking the Gannon Interiors Fillies' Maiden. Unraced at two, she made her racing debut in late April at Limerick track and was notably strong in the market. However, having led from halfway, she was unable to fend off the late challenges of Bay Colony and Matrice. That outing is sure to have brought her forward quite considerably, and on this quicker ground, she will take a great deal of beating despite this being a decent race. It's A Heartbeat showed promise on debut and is also like to step forward quite a bit, but the biggest danger may come from Tenoya, who finished third behind stablemate Royal Entry on her recent debut, in Cork. She ran a great race despite being stable second string and an even bolder showing is likely. The day's most competitive race is the €50,000 guaranteed, three-year-olds-only Sky Bet Premier Handicap, over five furlongs, and Sarahmae can land the spoils for Denis Hogan and Joey Sheridan. A breakthrough winner in April at Tipperary, she ran two fine races before getting back to winning ways last time out, back at Tipperary. The 7lb rise for that victory doesn't look to have overburdened her, and the progressive filly can get the better of some smart rivals. Unexpected Issues is far from the finished article but has the ability to play a leading role, despite having to give weight to all of her rivals, and the same comment applies to bottom weight Tropical Retreat, who will surely prove far better than her current mark of 72 when she learns to do things right. She is a serious player today, provided she doesn't leave her race at the stalls, as she did last time out, in Cork. At bigger prices, Saratoga Special has each-way claims. Aidan O'Brien has made a great start to the season with his two-year-olds, and Amadeus Mozart, who is the stable selected from three runners, is another likely type in the opener, a seven-furlong maiden. Flushing Meadows, who contests the second race, a six-furlong maiden, may well be a future star, but Evening Blues, who was only run down close home by Albert Einstein on his second start, sets quite a standard and it will take something considerably above average to lower his colours. Tommy Lyons' Curragh picks: 4:45 Amadeus Mozart 5:15 Evening Blues 5:50 Marlborough Place 6:20 Sarahmae (nb) 6:55 Jannah Star (nap) 7:30 Mr Percy 8:00 Annie Lavinia 8:30 Ukiyo Next best 4:45 Green Soul 5:15 Flushing Meadows 5:50 Stella Alpina 6:20 Tropical Treat 6:55 Tenoya 7:30 Harbour Wind 8:00 Steel Magnolia 8:30 Secret Magician