Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
PEPPER’S NOT TO BE SNIFFED AT
Cayenne has the class to conquer
CAYENNE Pepper should make a bold bid to give Jessica Harrington and Shane Foley a first Juddmonte Irish Oaks victory at the Curragh.
The Australia filly, no match for the high-class Magical on her recent seasonal debut in the Group 1 Pretty Polly, is a dour stayer and, rated a minimum of 4lb. superior to her seven rivals, should take plenty of beating.
Trainer Harrington expressed her surprise that the selection ran such a big race against Magical and expects plenty of improvement from her.
And last season’s two-year-old form looks rock-solid – a maiden win in Tipperary, victory in the Group 3 Flame Of Tara at this venue and, most significantly, a fourth behind Quadrilateral in the Group 1 Fillies Mile in Newmarket, when apparently outpaced at a crucial stage before staying on late.
On that occasion, Cayenne Pepper finished little more than a length off Balldyoyle star Love, winner of both the Qipco 1,000 Guineas and Investec Oaks this season.
Sure to improve from her seasonal debut, Cayenne Pepper gets the vote over the Ballydoyle quartet, spear-headed by Ennistymon, nine lengths second to stable-companion Love in the Investec Oaks.
Wayne Lordan’s mount chased the front-runners turning for home and appeared to tire, although keeping some smart fillies at bay in the closing stages.
Prior to her Epsom run, she had won a Leopardstown maiden before chasing home Frankly Darling in the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot, form she turned around at Epsom, where stable-companion Passion, third at Ascot, finished fifth, having served as a pacemaker.
Aidan O’brien also runs the progressive Snow, winner of the recent Cork Oaks, and Laburnum, successful on debut, before going down to Ger Lyons’ main fancy today Even So in the listed Naas Oaks Trial.
And another to consider is Joseph O’brien’s New York Girl, fourth to Peaceful in the Irish 1,000 Guineas before filling seventh spot in the Irish Derby.
On the supporting programme, Ken Condon’s dual Group 1 winner Romanised makes his seasonal debut and is a tentative choice in the Group 2 Paddy Power Minstrel Stakes, although sure to improve from the run and potentially vulnerable to the likes of course and distance winner Lancaster House.
All-the-way winner of the Vintage Crop here last time, Twilight Payment should follow-up in the Comer Group International Curragh Cup.
And Jessica Harrington’s Naas winner Lucky Vega might prove best in a wide open, Group 2, GAIN Railway Stakes.