Another day, another early morning inspection for an Irish race meeting with Storm Kathleen throwing an extra complication into the mix this weekend.
The featured Alleged Stakes looks like a real puzzle at the Curragh on Saturday afternoon and the lightly-raced Maxux may be worth a shot in the Group Three contest if it survives the weather.
She made a big impression when winning on her debut last season at Gowran Park but struggled a bit on better ground when thrown into stakes company on her next couple of starts.
That may have been a combination of inexperience and a faster surface not suiting, while she also didn’t help herself by missing the kick in the Naas Oaks Trial.
On the second of those two Listed runs she stayed on to finish a decent enough sixth in a strong race at the Curragh and was a different filly altogether back on easier ground at Fairyhouse on her final start.
The daughter of Frankel looked more like the filly that has shown so much promise first time when beating a decent Group Three field in fine style.
She quickened away inside the final furlong to post a four-and-a-quarter length win over a good yardstick in American Sonja.
The form looks good with the third horse, Village Voice, going on to win at the same level in France.
This will be much more testing now but Maxux looks like she appreciates easier ground and is sure to be fit first time up coming from the Joseph O’Brien yard.
She does have to carry a 3lb penalty which leaves her on level weights with the top-rated horse in the field, White Birch.
Obviously John Murphy’s charge is a classy performer who has to be respected having been third in the Epsom Derby last season.
He had an interrupted campaign after a disappointing effort at the Curragh and has a few questions to answer on his return.
Layfayette, who won this two years ago, tends to go well early in the season and he’s another that has to be on the shortlist in a race where it’s hard to rule out too many.
It’s an intriguing contest but Maxux looks like a filly that can improve again this season.
In the concluding mile-and-a-half handicap, Whimsy is one that could be nicely treated.
The Anthony McCann-trained mare has posted some really solid placed efforts over the winter and comes here off the back of a good runner-up effort at Limerick just under two weeks ago.
She had been slipping down the handicap a bit when bought out of England last year and could be on a lenient mark now.
Ross O’Sullivan saddles an interesting one in the six-furlong maiden in the shape of Follow Me.
The Shalaa colt had some good form in France and was last seen finishing fifth behind a smart horse in Islandsinthestream in a very valuable conditions race at Longchamp on Arc weekend.
He was bought for €170,000 after that run so new connections will be eager to start getting a return on their investment.
1.45 California Dreamer
2.20 It’sonlyjustbegun
2.55 Maxux (Nap)
3.25 Crystal Black
4.00 Follow Me
4.35 Evening Blossom
5.05 Stag Night
5.35 Whimsy (Dbl)
