Those waiting for the concluding fillies maiden at the start of the Galway three-day September meeting today look set for a classic clash between one who has the form and the book and one whose potential looks more than considerable. On this occasion it looks worth betting that the unexposed Musk Lime is the filly to be on.
Her main opponent is Viola Royale who had proved rather frustrating to follow until she ran a fine race to be a fast-finishing second to Photogenic in the Listed Debutante Stakes at Leopardstown last month.
That was quite an eye-catching effort and earned Viola Royale a rating of 87, well up to winning a contest such as today's. However, it could be dangerous to take that performance totally at face value.
Viola Royale seemed to be finishing fast past fillies who didn't appear to truly stay and it's a fact that the first six home finished more or less in a heap.
That is normally a poor sign of a race and with Viola Royale having flattered to deceive before, she looks well worth opposing with Musk Lime, especially after the running of yesterday's Moyglare Stud Stakes.
Aidan O'Brien's runner opened favourite for her debut at Gowran before drifting in the market behind Heed My Warning who ran such a blinder yesterday. Musk Lime didn't help her cause by being slowly away that day and ultimately did well to finish in second behind the easy winner.
Stamina didn't look to be a problem and while the ability to act on give has to be taken on trust, O'Brien would hardly be running Musk Lime if he wasn't confident she would.
The most valuable race of the day is the Tom Hogan Motors Handicap where Dermot Weld and Mick Kinane can initiate a double with Skipo.
This grey can be inconsistent but has some smart form at his best and his best was on show at Tralee when despite the burden of 9st 13lb, he accelerated impressively to beat Miss Indonesia by a length and a half on very heavy ground. That proved Skipo will have no problem with today's surface and if in the same form again, he may not have any problem with the opposition either.
Key To The City found the test of comparative stamina at Dundalk last Wednesday to his liking, beating Bailiwick Frontier by a neck. Kinane had to roust Key To The City in the closing stages and the horse has picked up a 5lb penalty for the success. However, he looks up to defying it.
