RACING/KILLARNEY PREVIEW:LOLLY FOR Dolly is set to try to secure a third Group Three prize of 2011 at the Curragh on Sunday when she lines up in the TRI Equestrian Stakes.
Tommy Stack’s four-year-old also holds an entry in Sunday’s Group One Prix D’Ispahan at Longchamp but Lolly For Dolly is likely to avoid a clash with the superstar French mare Goldikova.
Instead she will remain in Group Three class over a mile at the Curragh after her name featured among 13 entries for the race at yesterday’s forfeit stage.
“We think we’ll be going there. It should be easier than taking on Goldikova!” said Stack’s son and assistant, Fozzy, yesterday.
“The ground is good to firm at the Curragh but she was only beaten a short head on fast ground in the Athasi and was fourth on fast ground at Ascot last year,” he added.
Before the Athasi, Lolly For Dolly had scored in both the Park Express Stakes and the Gladness Stakes.
Aidan O’Brien currently has the D’Ispahan, a rare Group One race in Europe the champion trainer hasn’t won, as an option for the exciting four-year-old Await The Dawn. O’Brien also has Jan Vermeer entered in the nine-furlong event.
The Stack team’s focus this evening will be on Killarney where Betrothed can secure the first victory of her career in the three-year-old maiden.
Beaten just a head by Dance Secretary on her last start at the Curragh, Betrothed’s form was boosted by Dance Secretary’s subsequent Group Three third to Ballybacka Lady at Leopardstown and she looks sure to be suited by the hike in distance.
Gatamalata represents a 90-handicap benchmark in the race and Betrothed’s potential looks good enough for that.
Mossey Joe’s profile for the novice chase looks outstanding on the back of a good run over hurdles at Punchestown earlier this month. Barry Geraghty’s mount is a dual point-to-point winner, a hunter chase scorer, and a Grade Three winner over flights.
That looks good enough to cope with the Down Royal winner Cottage Oak and Campbonnais.
Alpine Eagle is a course winner on the flat and has the hurdles form to make a winning debut over fences in the opener while last year’s Galtres Stakes runner-up, Sense Of Purpose, should land the conditions event.
