‘Cherry’ looks ripe for Ascot after stellar Cork display
Cherry Blossom put herself in the Royal Ascot picture with a breathtaking display in the Goffs Irish EBF Polonia Stakes at Cork yesterday.
The daughter of No Nay Never was an above-average operator as a two-year-old and although only finding the scoresheet once, finished second in the Lowther Stakes, fourth in the Group One Cheveley Park and made her way into trainer Aidan O’Brien’s Breeders’ Cup team.
Dropped to Listed company for her return to the track, she was sent off the 5/2 favourite in the hands of Wayne Lordan and barely missed a beat as she blazed a trail on the front end.
She had too much class for Jack Davison’s likeable She’s Quality at the finish as she surged to a length and a half success, with bookmakers trimming the Ballydoyle inmate to 25/1 from 40s for the Commonwealth Cup at the Royal meeting next month.
O’Brien was represented by Chris Armstrong, who said: “She had a high rating, had good runs at two and with today’s conditions and the track, everything worked out. She is a very quick filly, wants quick ground and five [furlongs].
Sprint
“It is great to get the Listed win and with the sprint programme in Ireland being tricky, she might have to travel for Group Threes for fillies.
“It’s onwards and upwards and that will be a nice confidence booster for her.”
Elsewhere, Hugo Palmer’s Zoffee went one better than last year to land the 200th running of Duke Of Westminster Supporting The Chester Cup.
Drawn in stall one, the 9/1 winner – beaten a neck 12 months ago – was able to sit on the rail in the perfect position and former crack apprentice Harry Davies timed his challenge to perfection.
For much of the way, the well-fancied Andrew Balding pair of Aztec Empire and Grand Providence controlled the pace, with Oisín Murphy looking to steal it on Aztec Empire with two furlongs to run. But Davies pulled Zoffee out around Emiyn with a furlong to travel and his mount quickened away in good style.
It was a huge result for Palmer, who moved from Newmarket to take over at Michael Owen’s Manor House Stables in Cheshire.
Defiance is among those looking to book their ticket to Epsom in the William Hill Lingfield Derby Trial at Lingfield today.
Roger Varian’s Camelot colt is joined at the head of the market by O’Brien’s pair of The Euphrates and Illinois, who finished second and third, respectively, in the Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown last month.
Illinois was a beaten odds-on favourite that day, but Ryan Moore keeps the faith, with Declan McDonogh coming in for the ride on his stablemate as O’Brien chases a seventh win in the race.