Flaming June is forecast to make a belated arrival this week-end, and, with the sun beating down on The Curragh this morning, the ground is drying out nicely in time for the challenge of the 'Three Muskateers' who represent La Grange Stables on the plains of Kildare both tomorrow and Sunday.
SNOW FAIRY, denied a run in the Sheema Classic in Dubai in March when she suffered bone damage at the back of one of her knees, makes her long-awaited seasonal debut in the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes on Saturday, while classy handicapper RED CADEAUX steps into Group 3 company for the Pretty Polly Stakes the same afternoon, and then 24 hours later NATIVE KHAN, fifth in the Investec Derby, takes on the Epsom second (Treasure Beach), third (Carlton House) and fourth (Memphis Tennessee) again in the Dubai Duty Free-sponsored Irish Derby.
Ed, confirming that our trio all arrived safely at The Curragh, confessed that he cannot wait to see Snow Fairy back in action, our dual Oaks heroine having been off the track since following up that wonderful Group 1 success in Japan in November with another brilliant triumph at the top level in Hong Kong in December.
He said:"This is Snow Fairy's comeback run and we are under no illusions about the task that she faces. It is a very competitive race and Midday is an exceptional mare, but our filly has worked well since she resumed fast work after that enforced break, and she was impressive in her final blow-out up the Al Bahathri on Tuesday. They had plenty of rain in Ireland earlier in the week and, while I am pleased to see the weather change and the ground dry out, Snow Fairy did win an Irish Oaks in the heavy, so we won't be too concerned if it remains on the easy side."
"Red Cadeaux would definitely appreciate any juice still being in the ground, and you can forget his run at Pontefract last Sunday as it was an unsatiisfactory race. He was almost knocked over just when he was coming with his challenge in the last furlong, otherwise he would have gone very close, and being none the worse for that experience we decided we have nothing to lose by giving this race a shot."
The ground looks like being faster on Sunday, which will suit Native Khan in the big one, and Ed said;"He is such a good mover and he floats over fast ground, so the more it dries out the better, but he came out of Epsom great and this is his last chance of running against the classic generation. He showed in the Derby that he stays the mile and a half, though he is versatile enough to drop back to 10 furlongs should we so wish, and he only needs to find a little improvement to reverse the form with the others. Johnny (Murtagh) is adamant that, while The Curragh is more of a stamina track than Epsom, it will suit Native Khan better, so we go there with a good shout."