Remember When looks best

IT MIGHT go against the grain for a filly to break her maiden in a Group One but Remember When can prove herself very much out of the ordinary in today’s Audi Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh.

Aidan O’Brien’s star has just the fifth start of her career in this afternoon’s feature which could turn into a duel between racing’s two superpowers with Godolphin pitching in last year’s Ribblesdale winner Flying Cloud.

The Godolphin filly was only four lengths off Sariska at York on her first start of 2010 and unlike the in-foal Chinese White, Flying Cloud should relish the quick ground conditions. Saphira’s Fire and Kinky Afro are two other raiders against a home team in which Chinese White – in foal to Cape Cross – could finish her racing career on a Group One high if successful.

Older horses have won the Pretty Polly in five of the last six years but Peeping Fawn was the sole three-year-old in that period and Aidan O’Brien has already acknowledged the similarities between that top-notcher and Remember When. Peeping Fawn had at least won a maiden before the Pretty Polly but she too was placed in the Epsom Oaks beforehand. Remember When was third at Epsom three weeks ago and before that a close fourth in the Irish 1,000 Guineas.

“Maybe she didn’t stay the trip the last day so back to 10 furlongs at the Curragh should be ideal,” said her jockey Johnny Murtagh yesterday. “She’s a filly I like a lot and is improving all the time.”

So four years after her three-parts brother Dylan Thomas won the Irish Derby, Remember When can break her racing duck in similar Group One style.

Recharge looks to have a good opportunity in the Group Three International Stakes. Kevin Prendergast has avoided Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and his Tattersalls Gold Cup runner-up can beat just four opponents.