Hannon's Memory can supply Moyglare boost

Damien McElroy

August 28 2010 04:45 AM

Moyglare Stud Stakes hotpot Memory has more than her undefeated record to uphold at The Curragh tomorrow, when the current form of Richard Hannon's classy juvenile crop is in need of a timely boost after the recent defeats of Strong Suit and Libranno.

Gunning for the British trainers' and jockeys' titles, Hannon and senior stable jockey Richard Hughes suffered rare setbacks when Strong Suit was turned over at the Kildare venue in the Phoenix Stakes and Libranno was eclipsed last Sunday at Deauville.

However, this hugely successful partnership appear to have the utmost faith that the Highclere Syndicate's latest star performer, Memory, will graduate smoothly to Group One level in the Moyglare Stud promotion following her impressive exploits to date on English soil.

The leading bookmaking firms had no hesitation installing this daughter of Danehill Dancer as clear ante-post favourite for the 2011 English Guineas after her final-furlong romp at Newmarket and were unanimous this week when quoting skinny odds about a similar Irish debut.

cool

Hughes was typically cool and confident when taking his time in the Cherry Hinton Stakes before sending Memory in pursuit of some speedier types and no sooner did the issue seem to hang in the balance than they soon took control on the climb to the post.

Given time to get over her earlier-season exertions, Memory reportedly went very well when working last Saturday morning, while both her style of running and pedigree suggest the extra furlong being attempted on this occasion won't unduly bother her.

The combined talents of Laughing Lashes, Misty For Me, Together, Wild Wind and Kissable for the home team might not be brushed aside readily, however, and it will probably take a career-best effort again by Hannon's runner to overcome them.

There was plenty to admire about the manner in which Laughing Lashes overcame the equally progressive Misty For Me and a wayward Together in the Debutante Stakes over the course and distance three weeks ago, prompting connections to fork out €23,500 to supplement this American-bred Mr Greeley filly, which previously this term was defeated by Together at Leopardstown and Wild Wind on her debut at The Curragh.

While the local talent might not manage to cope with Memory, Big Issue for Hannon and Hughes will most likely struggle to contain the likes of a busy Glor Na Mara and impressive Leopardstown debut scorer Fred Archer in the Go And Go Round Tower Stakes.

Given an official rating of 113, Glor Na Mara is expected by Jim Bolger to book his passage to the Vincent O'Brien National Stakes in a fortnight by demonstrating here that three runs in August won't have taken the edge off this talented recruit. Kevin Manning's mount drops back to the route over which he divided Zoffany and Strong Suit in the Phoenix Stakes before last Saturday's headquarters defeat by Pathfork and may have the edge over Fred Archer on the fast ground they both relish.

The following Dance Design Stakes, likewise at Group Three level, would seem the ideal vehicle for Lush Lashes, a triple Group One heroine for Bolger and Manning in 2008, to resume her racing career on a profitable note after a brief, unproductive spell at stud.

In the absence of Henry Cecil's Aviate, this five-year-old, which is rated 110 and isn't penalised on this occasion for her victories at the highest level, will scarcely have a better opportunity to bounce back to form with a tongue tie fitted for the first time.

But the Goffs Flying Five, which has attracted no less than 11 starters from English stables, could go for export yet again as former triple winner Benbaun and equally sprightly veteran Reverence, victorious 12 months ago, have travelled over once more.

Even if Michael Halford's prolific scorer Invincible Ash won't go down without a fight, the prize could go instead to one of the less exposed visitors, namely Ed McMahon's Astrophysical Jet after the Dubawi filly's close third to Borderlescott in a Group 2 dash at Goodwood.

The cavalry charge for the Irish Cambridgeshire Premier Handicap could conceivably end up in a spirited tussle between two of the race's six hat-trick seekers, namely Start Right and Rock Critic, with preference for the Footstepsinthesand gelding on behalf of Luca Cumani and Kieren Fallon.