Maybe earns the plaudits

RACING:LA COLINA'S 33 to 1 shocker in the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes earned her a Group One victory but it was her old rival Maybe who emerged from yesterday's Curragh action as a classic favourite for 2012.

Half an hour before La Colina pounced on the favourite Power in the final strides of the Phoenix, Maybe made it four wins from four starts with a totally authoritative win in the Group Two Debutante Stakes that shot her to favouritism for next year’s 1,000 Guineas.

Prior to yesterday Maybe had beaten La Colina at Leopardstown in a manner that convinced the latter’s trainer Kevin Prendergast that taking on colts in Group One could be a lot easier than taking on Maybe again in a Group Two.

He was proved right with a vengeance as Declan McDonogh steered the diminutive filly from the back of the field to deny Aidan O’Brien a 12th Phoenix victory and secure Prendergast another win in a race that has been synonymous with his father Paddy.

“The other filly gave us 3lb at Leopardstown and the Debutante looked as tough as race as the Group One, so we switched. I would have been happy to get in the first three but we were right about it being easier,” the veteran trainer said.

McDonogh carried the same Joseph Vasicek colours to victory in the 2009 Moyglare on Termagant and La Colina and Maybe are set to clash again in that Group One event later this month. “This will give everyone a big lift because it has been a slow season up to now,” said McDonogh who was cautioned by the stewards for his use of the whip in the closing stages. “The boss said he felt the fillies were better than the colts and the filly in the Debutante looked very good. But my filly has a great temperament and if you haven’t got that, you’ve nothing.”

Aidan O’Brien has had many top class fillies through his hands but what he has got in Maybe will intrigue more than the champion trainer after the daughter of Galileo earned Guineas quotes of as low as 5 to 1 yesterday.

Joseph O’Brien never had to get serious as Maybe went two and a half lengths clear of Yellow Rosebud to add to earlier victories in the Silver Flash and the Chesham at Royal Ascot.

“She’ll go for the Moyglare over the same course and distance. She only won by half a length at Leopardstown but Joseph was very happy with her that day,” O’Brien said.

Kevin Manning had to work harder than many people anticipated he would to get the odds on Banimpire home ahead of Dunboyne Express in the Royal Whip Stakes but Jim Bolger’s ultra-consistent filly eventually got on top by three parts of a length.

Manning was in trouble with the stewards after the big race and picked up a three-day careless riding ban when his mount Parish Hall interfered with the English hope Frederick Engels after the two furlong pole.

Frederick Engels’ jockey Johnny Murtagh enjoyed a much happier time in the Group Three Patrick O’Leary Sprint as the odds-on favourite Deacon Blues sluiced up by seven lengths to score for Newmarket trainer James Fanshawe.