SHE’S SMOOTH AS SILK
SUCCESSFUL with Sonaiyla in a listed event at this track last Sunday, Paddy Twomey might strike again with Silk Forest in the Group 3 Brownstown Stakes in Cork tomorrow.
A lightly-raced daughter of Kodiac, the selection filled the runner-up berth on her first two starts, in maidens at Leopardstown and Limerick in April of last year, before getting off the mark, back at Leopardstown – after a break – in August.
And, tried in stakes company for the first time, Silk Forest impressed when making all for a convincing five lengths victory in the listed Garnet Stakes at Naas in October, clearly handling the soft surface when slamming Trethias by five lengths.
Silk Forest was highly tried on her four-year-old debut at the Curragh last month, in the Group 2 Lanwades Stud Stakes.
She shaped with promise in finishing third of four behind classy Ballydoyle mare Magic Wand, with one of tomorrow’s rivals Lady Wannabe in fourth, but a bit unlucky in running.
Dropping in class and with that outing under her belt, Silk Forest has solid claims in an open race and might confirm form with Lady Wannabe.
The 106-rated maiden So Wonderful continues to disappoint and doesn’t look as big a threat as fellow three-year-olds Soul Search, fifth to Speak In Colours at Fairyhouse last week, and Jessica Harrington’s Valeria Messalina, ninth in the Irish 1,000 Guineas and narrowly beaten by Thursday’s Musidora winner Rose Of Kildare in the Oh So Sharp at Newmarket last autumn.
Denis Hogan, whose focus will be on Sceptical’s July Cup bid in Newmarket today, has plenty of chances in Cork tomorrow. And his Turbine should go close in the Habitat (Premier) Handicap.
Successful over course and distance last year, before being disqualified following a prohibited substance enquiry, Turbine races from a 4lb higher mark this time, and that after a gutsy win at Leopardstown last month. He might confirm form with Equitant and subsequent Bellewstown winner Lord Rapscallion.
Joey Sheridan’s mount looks a seven-furlong specialist and, up the Mallow straight, he should be tough to pass.
Hogan and Sheridan will also be associated with Queen Mary seventh Grammata in the listed Coolmore Caravaggio Tipperary 2-Y-0
Stakes.
She finished in front of her Curragh debut conqueror Dickiedooda at Ascot and faces her again here.
But I’ll take a chance with Jack Davison’s speedy filly Mooneista, which had Ballydoyle hope Chief Little Hawk behind when brushed aside by the high-class Frenetic in a listed event at the Curragh.