RACING: Reach For The Moon gets the chance to turn her $1.6 million purchase price into value for money in tomorrow's Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh.
Aidan O'Brien has won Ireland's premier juvenile fillies race for the past two years and Reach For The Moon was yesterday disputing favouritism for the Group One pot.
Along with Danaskaya, the daughter of the American sire Pulpit was a 7 to 4 joint favourite with Cashmans.
Classic watchers will be watching Danaskaya intently as she presents an immediate test of the Lowther Stakes form where she was runner-up to the short-priced 1,000 Guineas favourite Russian Rhythm.
Jim Bolger has elected to give the grey filly a quick reappearance and throws the Stakes winner Luminata into the pot as well.
However, it's reasonable to predict Reach For The Moon would hold the favourite's position on her own were it not for the coughing at Ballydoyle.
She was an ultra-impressive four-length winner of her debut at Cork and the runner-up that day has since won at Fairyhouse. A tilt at the Lowther had been considered but instead O'Brien has elected to wait for this prize.
"We just weren't sure about some of them around York, so we decided not to send her," O'Brien said yesterday.
"But Reach For The Moon has always seemed fine through this. She hasn't coughed, all the tests are good and she seems in good form."
Quarter Moon and Sequoyah picked up the Moyglare for O'Brien but he was reluctant to make comparisons. "You can't really do that. We have always thought she is a very nice filly who won her maiden well and we are happy with what she has done," he said.
O'Brien's old mentor, Jim Bolger, is also looking for a third victory in the race and his main chance appears to be the Ballylinch Stud-owned Danaskaya.
"We think she is a very good filly and she ran a fine race at York," confirmed the owner's spokesman John O'Connor.
It's 15 years since Dermot Weld won the Moyglare and he relies this time on last weekend's Fairyhouse scorer Anna Frid. The full-sister to Agnetha would not like the ground getting any worse than the forecast "good to yielding".
Bianca Nera in 1996 was the last cross-channel winner and the visitors are double-handed this time to try and reverse that trend.
The Cherry Hinton third Pearl Dance is not the biggest type of filly and may struggle if the conditions turn testing. The Prestige Stakes runner-up, Mail The Desert, could also struggle.
The British raiders may well have better luck in the Group Two Flying five, however.
Agnetha has her Prix de l'Abbaye warm-up in this but faces Jessica's Dream on worse terms for her narrow win at Goodwood. Jessica's Dream was stopped twice in her run in the King George and is 7lb better off. She will also appreciate any cut in the ground.
The July Cup third Danehurst is the fly in the ointment but it's hard to ignore how badly she ran in the Nunthorpe.
Osprey Ridge goes for two in a row in the Cambridgeshire where any number hold chances. Possibly Solid Approach could go close now that he is dropped half a mile back from his last race behind Vinnie Roe.
Sinndar's half sister Sinnariya is an interesting newcomer in the maiden and the Danzig filly Walayef has had the form of her impressive debut boosted and looks the one in the Round Tower.
Aquila Oculus dropped such a loud hint at Tralee on Wednesday in the Ruby Stakes that it may be foolish to ignore her in today's feature at Ballybeggan. Blatant won easily and indicated he will be a major player in Group races from now on. However, Aquila Oculus was running on well at the finish to end up Listed placed and is hard to oppose today.
Loughbeg Rambler has a 6lb penalty for winning over the course and distance on Tuesday and should follow up in the handicap chase while Gowran runner-up Valerun looks spot on for the bumper.
The Galway Plate winner Rockholm Boy is an intriguing first reserve for the handicap hurdle and will figure prominently if getting the chance for a first start since his big pay-day.
