A STRONG BELIEF
Murtagh has confidence in progressive filly
JOHNNY MURTAGH’S progressive three-year-old filly Create Belief is a hopeful choice for the Kilboy Estates Stakes, one of two Group events on tomorrow’s Curragh card.
Unraced at two, the Awtaad filly has made great strides this season, progressing through the handicap ranks but stepping up in trip and class now.
Yet it’s surely a vote of confidence by Murtagh – never a man to shirk a challenge – that he’s pitching her in at the deep end here on the back of her impressive win in the Sandringham (Fillies) Handicap at Royal Ascot.
A first Royal winner, as a trainer, for Murtagh and stablejockey Ben Coen, she triumphed by five and a half lengths from
Samoot, a display which followed a more workmanlike win in a seven-furlong fillies handicap at the Curragh on Guineas weekend.
Winner of a Gowran Park maiden on her second start prior to flopping in a ten-furlong listed event in Navan, Create
Belief has rocketed up the ratings to a new mark of 110.
If that’s an accurate assessment of her ability, she should have every chance here, although clearly facing a tough task.
Winner of a Group 3 at Newmarket on her final start of a progressive campaign in 2020, Angel Power represents Roger Varian, with obvious claims in a field where many contenders need to step-up significantly.
But Willie Mccreery’s Insinuendo has solid claims, having won the Group 3 Blue Wind at Naas before finishing a creditable fourth behind Thundering Nights and subsequent Belmont Oaks winner Santa Barbara in the Group 1 Pretty Polly at this venue.
The other Group 2, the Romanised Minstrel Stakes, sees
Aidan O’brien’s
Breeders Cup victor
Order Of Australia set for his second start of 2021, following an eighth to Palace Pier in the
Queen Anne at
Royal Ascot.
He’s sure to strip fitter today and sets the standard at this level, although I’ll oppose him with Jessica Harrington’s Aussie Ace, probably below his best when third to enterprisinglyridden Maker Of Kings in the Amethyst at Leopardstown, but earlier a good second to top three-year-old miler Poetic Flare in a Guineas Trial at Leopardstown.
Favoured by fast ground, Shane Foley’s mount, in receipt of 10lb from the Ballydoyle horse, might have the edge.