17 hours ago
Promising filly Barnavara expected to rise to occassion at Al Shira'aa Irish EBF Jannah Rose Stakes in Naas
Barnavara is expected to take a successful step into Group 3 company in the Al Shira'aa Irish EBF Jannah Rose Stakes in Naas, after being successful at listed level last time out.
Jessica Harrington's filly performed creditably in hot company as a juvenile, made her stakes-race breakthrough in the 'Kooyonga' at Navan lats time and, stepping-up to a mile and a quarter for the first time, sets a decent standard in this evening's highlight.
Successful on her debut at the Curragh in May of last year, this Calyx filly went on to finish third behind Ballydoyle filly Bedtime Story in both the 'Silver Flash'(Group 3) at Leopardstown and the Group 2 'Debutante' at the Curragh, and filled the same spot behind another of Aidan O'Brien's fillies Heavens Gate in the Group 3 Weld Park Stakes.
With the Harrington team under a cloud, Barnavara made little impression on her seasonal debut behind Swelter in a Guineas Treial at Leopardstown.
But she stepped up to finish a close third behind subsequent Irish Guineas seventh Atsila and last week's Coronation Stakes heroine Cercene in the 'Athasi' at the Curragh.
Barnavara and Shane Foley (far) on their way to winning the Darley Irish EBF Kooyonga Stakes. File picture: Healy Racing Photo
And, last time, under an astute ride from Shane Foley, she overcame an outside draw to outpoint 111-rated Red Ketter by a head in the 'Kooyonga' at Navan.
Tackling a new trip here, Barnavara, rated 102, sets the standard and should take plenty of beating.
Biggest threats to Shane Foley's mount might be the unbeaten fillies Faiyum and Darzina, representing Ger Lyons and Dermot Weld respectively.
The Juddmonte-owned Faiyum has triumphed in a mile maiden on this track and a conditions event in Killarney, justifying 30/100 favouritism, and like Gorwan Park debut scorer Darzina, is hard to assess but open to plenty of improvement.
Unless there's a smart debutante in the field (Michale O'Callaghan's Breeze-Up acquisition Dawn Romance looks the most likely), the Donnacha O'Brien-trained Havana Anna should land the opening Dooley Insurance Group 2-Y-0 Fillies Maiden.
This Havana Grey filly finished third on her debut at Navan, beaten by only subsequent Royal Ascot winners Gstaad and True Love.
And, on her second start, she did very little wrong when collared close home and beaten a neck by potentially smart Moyglare filly Suzie Songs, the pair finishing five and a half lengths clear of the rest.
On the mark with Carmers at Royal Ascot, Paddy Twomey and Billy Lee might take the concluding Tinakill House Maiden with Standard Deviation, beaten a nose by Ballydoyle colt Gun Carriage on his second start, in Killarney, and entitled to improve, might prove too strong for the Weld runner Esherann.
Selections
5.10 Havana Anna (n.b.)
5.40 Beano Power
6.10 Revoke
6.40 Barnavara (Nap)
7.10 Paddydaddy
7.40 Guarded
8.10 Standard Deviation
Next Best
5.10 Dawn Romance
5.40 Carrigans Grove
6.10 Fragada
6.40 Faiyum
7.10 Cuckaloo Hill
7.40 Guy's Girl
8.10 Esherann
