Pretty Picture

Denied the coveted 1000 Guineas-Oaks double by Qualify (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) as her stamina ebbed in the final yards at Epsom last time June 5, Michael Tabor’s Legatissimo (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) drops back to what looks an ideal trip of 10 furlongs on Sunday for The Curragh’s G1 Sea the Stars Pretty Polly S. Having come a long way in a short space of time at three, the bay–who followed a win in the Listed Victor McCalmont Memorial S. over an extended nine furlongs at Gowran Park Apr. 26 with a commanding score in the Newmarket mile Classic a week later–was only beaten a short head in the Oaks and meets some older rivals on highly favorable weight-for-age terms here. 

“She seems well at home, so we’ll just have to wait and see what happens,” trainer David Wachman commented. “She’s won over seven furlongs and a mile and was touched off in the Oaks over a mile and a half, so she’s obviously pretty adaptable trip-wise. I don’t think the ground should be an issue. She’d go on most ground and it should be goodish this weekend, which will be fine.” 

Also among the sophomore challenge is Godolphin’s Pleascach (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), who was re-routed from an Irish Derby tilt after her surprise defeat in last Thursday’s G2 Ribblesdale S. at Royal Ascot. Second to the upwardly mobile Curvy (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) in that 12-furlong contest, Jim Bolger’s homebred may be better suited to this distance, having shown enough pace to win the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas here May 24. 

Of the older brigade, the Elite Racing Club’s G1 Prix Jean Romanet scorer Ribbons (GB) (Manduro {Ger}) and Qatar Racing’s Secret Gesture (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) offer a high standard to aim at and they renew rivalry from York’s G2 Middleton S. May 14. Secret Gesture was on top on that occasion, with 1 3/4 lengths separating them, but Ribbons has a three-pound pull here. Khalid Abdullah’s unbeaten Brooch (Empire Maker) is another fascinating contender tackling the Classic generation after wins at listed, Group 3 and Group 2 level. The latest came in the Lanwades Stud S. on good-to-yielding ground over a mile here May 23 and this rise in trip looks set to help her chances. 

“She’s done very well and is a very consistent mare,” jockey Pat Smullen said. “She’s come up steadily through the ranks. She’s only had four runs, which is typical of the boss, taking her along nice and steadily. The step up to a mile and a quarter will suit but she’d want a little ease in the ground. We think a lot of her and she’s only filling her frame now.”