With the remnants of a tropical storm threatening to bring a deluge of rain to the Curragh plain tomorrow, there doesn't appear to be any room for certainty in the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes.
An English challenge headed by the Cherry Hinton winner, Wannabe Grand, and some smart home runners apparently led by Edabiya, makes this a tricky contest, but Polaire is selected as a value bet to give Kevin Prendergast some Group One compensation in the race.
Prendergast won the Moyglare in 1980 with Arctique Royale, who went on to win the following season's Irish 1,000 Guineas. However, the Moyglare carried only Group Two kudos then and only graduated to the top status in 1983. Indeed, Prendergast also won this race in 1973 when it carried no black type status at all, so it could be said to owe him.
Strictly on the formbook, Polaire has a bit to find tomorrow, but considering she recovered from a tardy start to run a fast-finishing third to Lavery in the Heinz 57 while in season, it should pay to ignore those who are knocking the form of the Leopardstown race.
Prendergast said afterwards that Polaire was still only learning about the game and she has pleased him since. However, yesterday he was looking anxiously at the skies.
"She couldn't be better and we are very hopeful but her best form seems to be on fast ground. Having said that, she ran adequately on very soft ground on her debut and is out of a Habitat mare who usually go on a bit of dig. Unless it turns into very heavy, we will still be hopeful," he said.
The same concerns surround Wannabe Grand and Edabiya, but you wouldn't think so to look at their short prices. "She won her listed race on ground that was loose on top but we won't know for sure until she runs on it," said Jeremy Noseda yesterday; while John Oxx reported: "Edabiya's half sister (Ebadiyla) would love the soft but this filly doesn't bend her knee as much. If it really rains the ground could end up heavy."
If that happens, the race sponsors main hope, Anthem Of Love, could be in difficulties, while stable companion Camargo could come right into it. Sunspangled and Pink Coral, second and third to Edabiya at Leopardstown, could also hold major chances, and Henry Cecil's Enemy Action, behind Wannabe Grand at York, may also come right into it.
However, Polaire has already achieved Group One form in less than perfect circumstances and has as much of a chance as anything else of handling very soft ground, if it appears. At odds of around 10 to 1, that combination looks good. The Curragh surface, currently described as yielding, is the great imponderable, and although Kitza has a lot in hand of the opposition in the Group Three Trusted Partner Matron Stakes, she does need a fast pace and is not guaranteed to get it. The Doncaster Lincoln winner, Hunters Of Brora, acts on the soft and could be a better priced alternative.
David McCabe has made his mark since returning from riding in Britain, especially with his Golden Pages win on Hasanat, and could be on the mark in another valuable handicap with Maytpleasethecourt in the Cambridgeshire. John Mulhern's consistent type didn't get a clear run behind Markskeepingfaith at Leopardstown and in McCabe he has the assistance of one of the best lightweight riders in the country. The Galtres Stakes sixth, Mattiocco, also looks one that comes right into the equation as does Mick Channon's Abajany. Antinnaz has the beating of Immovable Option on her debut appearance and impressed afterwards when winning over the course and distance of the Round Tower Stakes. Tommy Stacks's charge can go in again; while, on heavy going, My Trivet should come into the reckoning in the Hyland Handicap.
Over in Ballinrobe, there is a more bread and butter feel to proceedings but ordinary is not the word to describe the current form of Paul Carberry, and the rider looks set to ride yet another double tomorrow.
Persian Life was part of a long-odds treble for Carberry at Tralee last Saturday and looks capable of going in again in the handicap chase; while Somerton Reef should improve enough from his jumping debut to beat the likes of An Modh Direach in the opener.
Another in-form rider who can score is Ruby Walsh, who looks the type of patient rider ideal to take the reins on Pas Possible in the NCF Handicap Hurdle.
Clive Brittain sends Luso in search of his second German Group One win of the season in the Mercedes Benz Grosser Preis von Baden at Baden-Baden tomorrow.
Luso , who will be partnered by Darryll Holland, finished second to Borgia in this race last year andfaces stiff competition again 12 months on, including the Andreas Schutz-trained trio Elle Danzig, Robertico and last year's Japan Cup fourth Caitano.
