BRAVO ALPHA

Flying filly Centauri out to batter boys

FLYING filly Alpha Centauri aims to make it four Group One wins on the spin in France today.

She takes on the boys in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville.

It is her stiffest test to date but it will be a surprise if this powerfully-built specimen fails to make it four Group Ones on the bounce.

Her trainer, Jessie Harrington, more accustomed to saddling Cheltenham winners, has brilliantly masterminded the rise of Alpha Centauri who has won the Irish 1,000 Guineas, Coronation and Falmouth Stakes.

And the filly has given jockey Colm O’Donoghue a deserved moment in the spotlight.

He said: “I’m looking forward to it, she’s in good form and came out of the Falmouth really well.

“Obviously she’s flying over there for the first time and Group Ones are never easy to win but we are going there full of confidence.

“I hope the ground is as good as possible and then we’ll just see what happens.”

At The Curragh today, Martyn Meade is hoping Advertise can halt

Aidan O’Brien’s dominance of the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes.

The Ballydoyle trainer has won the race an amazing 16 times since 1998, including the last four renewals.

He is responsible for four of the six runners, headed by Sergei Prokofiev, but that one has to reverse Royal Ascot form with Advertise, who was a neck in front of him when the pair were second and third in the Coventry Stakes.

Advertise now goes for Group One glory after landing the July Stakes in good style at Newmarket.

Meade said: “He’s been in really good form and has come out of Newmarket terribly well.

“We’ve always targeted the Phoenix. It’s all worked out and hopefully he can continue his winning ways.

“Any Group One is hugely tough, so I don’t underestimate the task at all but he’s got every right to be there.”

TOP TEAM: O’Donoghue with Alpha Centauri