ALMELA was one of the most impressive winners of the week at the Galway festival and is back to prove her class in Listed company at Ballybrit on Monday.
Dermot Weld’s charge didn’t have to come out of second gear to land her maiden early last month and Pat Smullen seemed very taken with her afterwards. She didn’t beat the strongest field then but, to be fair, the form has actually worked out well at a moderate enough level with a couple of the rivals, who were dismissed with such contempt, placed again since.
It’s a big step up in grade now for the Aga Khan filly in the Oyster Stakes but it looks telling that Smullen chooses her over more experienced stable-mate Zhukova, who has already shown up well in Group Three company.
It would be no surprise if Leigh Roche’s mount proved the danger having shaped well at Cork last month when staying on into fourth behind another stable-mate Zannda. That was a hot enough contest and the third has gone on to frank the form since by winning at Listed level.
Dark Crusader looks the pick of the older horses in the field and has to be respected having won here at the festival. She went on to finish a fine third in Listed company over in York since and her experience should see her get involved.
It could be a good day for the Aga Khan as he also has strong representation in the maidens on the card.
Weld runs Simannka in the fillies’ auction maiden and she has obvious claims having been placed three times already.
It may pay to side with the Michael Halford-trained Rayisa in the same colours, however, after a promising debut at the Curragh. She finished fifth in a hot looking maiden won by Zalfana and appeared to run a touch green on her debut. The yard’s horses often improve for an outing.
Weld is fancied to strike in the concluding mile-and-a-half maiden with Alveena, who looked a touch unlucky not to get up at Wexford last time. She made up a lot of ground inside the final furlong then, only to go down by a nose. The step up in trip now should be a big help.
Best Not Argue caught the eye running on in a maiden at the festival and looks the one in the three-year-old handicap while Cole Porter can be expected to improve from his debut and should land the opening maiden.
GARY CARSON
4.35pm: Cole Porter
5.05pm: Credit The Giver
5.35pm: Rayisa
6.05pm: Best Not Argue
6.35pm: Almela (nap)
7.05pm: Gelenschik
7.35pm: Alveena (dbl)
NEXT BEST
4.35pm: Alaskan Son
5.05pm: Johann Bach
5.35pm: Bobailín
6.05pm: Dawn Mirage
6.35pm: Dark Crusader
7.05pm: One Cool Poet
7.35pm: Deor
