Misty For Me heads the betting for the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday
Misty For Me proved herself to be a top-class filly when readily beating Midday in the Pretty Polly Stakes at The Curragh towards the end of June, and is a top-priced 13-8 to bag her third Group One of the season in Saturday’s Coolmore Fusaichi Pegasus Matron Stakes at Leopardstown, an excellent card which also features So You Think in the Irish Champion Stakes.
Winner of the Irish 1,000 Guineas in May, Misty For Me was so impressive in the Pretty Polly, even allowing for the fact that Midday was probably below her best on that occasion. Indeed, in beating Sir Henry Cecil’s charge by six lengths, the daughter of Galileo laid down a market in terms of standard for all three-year-old fillies to aim at.
The drop back to 1m shouldn’t be an issue at Leopardstown, but while she has won on good to firm ground before, I don’t think there’s any doubt that her best form – including that seemingly improved display at The Curragh last time – has come on softer going, which is a slight concern in my opinion, and concern enough to take her on the current prices.
I was disappointed with Emiyna in the Irish 1,000 and she was turned over when a short-priced favourite in a Group Three at this track last time, so the one I reckon will topple Misty For Me this weekend is the Dermot Weld-trained EMULOUS who is generally available at 9-2 at the time of writing.
She has to concede 5lb to the year younger Misty For Me, who is rated 8lb superior based on official figures, but she gave a stone and a length beating to Claiomh Sands, who was just two lengths adrift of Misty For Me in the Irish 1,000 at Fairyhouse last time, and proved her effectiveness on a fast surface when seeing off Lolly For Dolly and seven other rivals at The Curragh on her penultimate start. She won’t need to improve much on those pieces of form to take this.
In addition to the market leader, Aidan O’Brien also has a strong contender in the shape of Together who was runner-up in both the English and Irish 1,000 Guineas. In light of Immortal Verse’s subsequent exploits, Together wasn’t disgraced in finishing just over three lengths fifth to that rival in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot last time, but she does appear vulnerable at the business end of her races, which I feel will be the case again at Leopardstown on Saturday.