Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
FOLEY CAN POP CORK
On form Harrington and Shane are the pair to follow in Brownstown
THE unstoppable combination of Jessica Harrington and Shane Foley could add another good prize to their haul with Valeria Messalina the choice in this afternoon’s feature at Cork.
The daughter of Holy Roman Emperor is among a field of 12 for the Group 3 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Brownstown Stakes and appeals as being good enough to make her mark.
On her comeback in last month’s
Irish 1000 Guineas Valeria Messalina had to settle for ninth behind Peaceful.
However, her final position doesn’t reflect her overall performance in that race as she helped to force the pace until giving best with over a furlong to run.
She certainly deserved to finish closer than ninth and that comeback run coupled with this shorter trip earns her the vote.
In an open affair she could have most to fear from the promising Lynn Britt Cabin whose third in a premier handicap at the Curragh last month was very encouraging.
Harrington and Foley could also supply the answer to the Listed Coolmore Caravaggio Tipperary
Stakes with Dickiedooda.
This filly finished down the field at Royal Ascot last time but she is easily forgiven that effort as it came just a week after she won a maiden at the Curragh.
A decent card also features a competitive
Irish Stallion Farms EBF
Habitat Handicap where Ice Cold In Alex gets another chance.
This useful gelding is hard to win with but he has posted a series of good efforts and he is a generally reliable sort.