ALL LOOKS WELD FOR A BIG DAY FOR JAEGA IN GOWRAN

JAEGA, impressive winner of recent Leopardstown maiden on her debut, might be capable of making a successful transition to stakes company in the listed Victor Mccalmont Memorial Stakes in Gowran Park tomorrow.

Ground conditions were described as “heavy” yesterday and the meeting could be in jeopardy if further rain hits the County Kilkenny venue.

But Jaega, bred and owned by Newtown Anner Stud, has already proven her ability to handle heavy ground and, armed with that capability, and with a fitness advantage, the daughter of Fastnet Rock, ridden again by Leigh Roche, gets the vote to provide in-form Dermot Weld with the highlight of what promises to be a good day for Rosewell House.

Always close to the pace in a mile and a quarter fillies maiden at Leopardstown, Jaega set sail for home off the home turn and, soon in command, ran on strongly to triumph by six and a half lengths from Samasthiti, with three Ballydoyle fillies close behind.

Time will tell how strong that maiden form is But Jaega was visibly impressive and I expect her to follow-up here.

The selection is set to receive a minimum of 14lb. from the older fillies, with Aidan O’brien’s Clear Skies, a prolific winner on Dundalk’s polytrack over the winter before being well beaten in Lingfield on Good Friday, the highest-rated of the five older contenders.

But Clear Skies appeared to flounder a bit in heavy ground in Cork last time, when third behind Bloomfield in the listed Noblesse Stakes over a mile and a half, a trip which might have proven beyond her in the ground conditions.

Weld has obvious prospects throughout the card and Bandua, a convincing winner on his recent debut in Cork (in heavy ground), will be expected to land the four-runner finale, the Festival Of Speed 3-Y-0 Race over a mile and a half.

The grey scored in Cork by nine and a half lengths, showing an aptitude to handle testing conditions and Jim Bolger’s debutante Miraculum, which holds a Darley Irish Oaks entry, will probably have to be smart if she’s to lower his colours, even in receipt of 8lb.

In the earlier maidens, Weld and Declan Mcdonogh should strike with Jewel Maker in the Helmet Day June 4th Maiden.

He separated subsequent Group race winners Flag Of Homour (won the Eyrefield Stakes at Leopardstown) and Kenya (Group 3 Killavullan Stakes also at Leopardstown) in a Naas maiden last October, his only start. He looks a good prospect.

And the same Weld/mcdonogh combination might also take the fillies maiden with the interesting, Aga Khan-owned newcomer Imrana.