George Strawbridge's Journey (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is one of the star names among 14 fillies and mares confirmed for the G1 Pretty Polly S. at The Curragh on Sunday. The John Gosden-trained 5-year-old won three of her four starts last season, rounding off her campaign with a win in the G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S. on Champions Day at Ascot. She can be expected to improve significantly from her comeback run in the G1 Coronation Cup at Epsom, where she was far from disgraced in finishing fifth behind Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).
Journey is one of three possible British challengers along with Roger Varian's Nezwaah (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who made a winning start to the season in the Listed Rothesay S. at Ayr May 24, and Sir Michael Stoute's Smart Call (SAf) (Ideal World), who was fourth in last week's G2 Duke of Cambridge S. at Royal Ascot. Aidan O'Brien has three contenders in Pocketfullofdreams (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Rain Goddess (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Somehow (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}).
Other hopefuls include Andrew Slattery's stable star Creggs Pipes (Ire) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) and the Dermot Weld-trained Zhukova (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), who won a Grade I in America last month. Weld could also call on Shamreen (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who has not been seen since winning the G2 Blandford S. over the course and distance last September.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
