Eirene has conditions to suit at Salisbury
EIRENE can build on her recent Listed success by striking Group Three gold in the Bathwick Tyres Dick Poole Fillies’ Stakes at Salisbury.
Dean Ivory’s charge was not without her supporters at Newbury last month, but she still went off at the generous odds of 10-1 as she registered an impressive near two-length triumph.
She had previously finished second when conceding 2lb at Nottingham and the value of that form became all the clearer when winner Sands Of Mali claimed the Gimcrack at York.
Crucially, Eirene has turned in her best efforts to date with some cut in the ground and with conditions likely to be on the easier side here that is a factor in her favour.
While she triumphed over the minimum trip in Berkshire, Eirene won over six furlongs at Doncaster earlier in the season so the trip holds no fears and she is well in on the official numbers, too.
The Balding family surely hold a special place in their hearts for former sprint sensation Lochsong and Rely On Me should be in the mix in the race named in that filly’s honour.
Successful in one of her two juvenile outings last term, Rely On Me has taken a bit of time to get rolling this season, eventually hitting the target at the sixth time of asking.
Having been tried over seven furlongs, Rely On Me appreciated the drop back to six on the July course at Newmarket, winning a competitive enough heat in tidy style.
Racing off a mark of 80 that day, the handicapper has since hiked her 5lb which is far from ideal, but Rely On Me should at least come into this event with her confidence riding high.
So Beloved can snap a losing run that stretches back to May 2016 in the 32Red.com EBF Stallions Conditions Stakes at Haydock.
David O’Meara has opted for a step down in class in a bid to get back on track as the seven-year-old has been just missing the mark in Group events, most recently being beaten just over a length by Talaayeb at the Ebor meeting.
So Beloved has upwards of 4lb in hand of all his rivals and it will be a letdown if he cannot regain the winning thread.