Malabar Value For Moyglare Stakes

One of the most important trials in terms of next year’s Classics takes place for fillies on Sunday via the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh (3.40).

Classic Potential
A glance back at the recent roll of honour for this superb event shows that likes of Rizeena, Sky Lantern and Misty For Me, who all won major Group 1 events the following season; Sky Lantern won the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket. It’s a fact that punters can’t ignore ahead of Sunday, where the ante-post lists for next year will be affected should there be an impressive winner. The question facing backers is: who could it be?

Well, with Aidan O’Brien having won three of the last 10 renewals of this race, Found (2/1) could well add to that record having won so impressively on her debut over a mile here three weeks ago. While this represents a stiff rise in class, O’Brien doesn’t pitch them in at this level if they don’t have a chance, and the fact 6 Moyglare winners in the last 10 years arrived having raced here at the Curragh last time bodes well.

Jim Bolger’s, Lucida (8/1) should not be dismissed having just lost out by 1/2l in a Group 2 over this C&D last month, while Kevin Prendergast won this race on more than one occasion and has each-way claims via Beach Belle (12/1), who had her path blocked when sixth behind Lucida in the aforementioned race here.

British Challenge
But, with the last two runnings of the Moyglare falling to British runners, the likes of Roger Varian’s, Cursory Glance (7/4) look sure to be popular. A Group 3 winner at Royal Ascot (6f, good to firm), before a 1l runner-up to the talented Tiggy Wiggy in Group 2 company at York last month (6f, good), she certainly has the class, while the fact she is out of a 1m2f winner suggests she is expected to enjoy this extra furlong.

Richard Hannon’s, Osaila (8/1), need respecting, especially as the yard won this with Sky Lantern two years ago. Hannon’s filly comes here having made up for a slow start to her career by winning her last two races – the last of which was a Group 2 at Ascot in July (6f, good). Connections stated afterwards that 7f was the way to go now, and as a sister to a 1m1f winner, further improvement looks likely on Sunday.

Mick Channon meanwhile, has Malabar (14/1), who lines-up in terrific form having impressed in winning a Group 2 at Goodwood over 7f (good) where she showed a fine turn of foot. She is one of the few distance winners in the line-up, and they boast a tidy strike-rate down the years…

Trends Summary
10 made the top three last time out – others were 0-35
9 were Irish-bred
6 arrived via the Curragh
Runners with 4 runs or more were 6-31 (19%), those with 3 runs or less were 4-70 (6%)
Distance winners were 5-39 (13%), others were 5-62 (8%)
Aidan O’Brien won it 3 times, K Prendergast twice

Recommended Bets

Some flashy reputations go on the line here, but Malabar could represent each-way value, as she is equipped with a turn of foot that could have them all in trouble.