Quality Entries For Debutante

Some interesting fillies are set to line up in the G2 Debutante S. at The Curragh on Saturday. Seventeen juveniles remain in the race, six of which are trained by Aidan O’Brien, who will be bidding to win the contest for the seventh time this century.

Two eye-catching entries from O’Brien are the aptly named pair Ballydoyle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Coolmore (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Ballydoyle finished a close second in the Listed Chesham S. at Royal Ascot before breaking her maiden in good style at Newmarket in July. Coolmore is unraced, but has a beautiful pedigree, being a full-sister to MG1SW Gleneagles (Ire) and G1 Irish 1000 Guineas winner Marvellous (Ire). Coolmore also holds an entry in the maiden race earlier in the day.

O’Brien could also field recent Curragh maiden winner How High The Moon (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), another blue-blooded filly being a full sister to Group 1 winner Diamondsandrubies (Ire). The David Wachman trained Most Beautiful (GB) (Canford Cliffs {Ire}) missed her last engagement in the G1 Phoenix S. and if taking up her entry on Saturday will be a leading candidate. One filly definitely on target for the Debutante is Michael O’Callaghan’s Now Or Never (Ire) (Bushranger {Ire}). She was impressive when winning a maiden at Galway by five lengths on her second start and her young trainer feels there is more to come.

“She is going to improve from Galway,” O’Callaghan. “Saturday is the logical step for her and she deserves to take her chance. If it goes well then the G1 Moyglare Stud S. would be her end of season target.”