Jim Bolger's high-class filly Lucida will the the sole Irish representative in the Group One Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket tomorrow as she steps up to take on older company for the first time.
The trainer declared himself "very happy" with the Godolphin-owned three-year-old who was just touched off the in the English 1,000 Guineas and also finished third in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot last month. She will face eight-rivals on her latest assignment.
There's plenty of French challengers to contend with as Andre Fabre's Fintry will also carry the Godolphin colours and Avenir Certain and Bawina will both warrant plenty of respect.
Bolger is responsible for more Godolphin-owned runners than any other Irish trainer and not for the first time he introduced a nice newcomer at Naas last night when Queen Of Sicily (pictured)made a winning debut under Kevin Manning.
The daughter of Cape Cross, who holds an entry in the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes, later in the year ran out an impressive winner of the six-furlong maiden and she was described afterwards as "a good type of filly" who the trainer hopes will be "versatile" when it comes to ground conditions.
Looking ahead to the Irish Oaks weekend, Bolger said that the Oaks was "under serious consideration" for Irish 1,000 Guineas heroine Pleascach and his impressive two-year-old Round Two may bid to bounce back from a below-par run at Royal Ascot, with the Phoenix Stakes being earmarked as a potential target for him.