Athasi Stakes

3.20 Curragh

Starspangledbanner European Breeders Fund Athasi Stakes (Fillies' Group 3) (Class 1)  (3YO plus)

Winner €47,125

Pick: Lolly For Dolly (win)

Lolly For Dolly: Showed plenty of promise when winning maiden and Group 3 last year (plenty of decent efforts afterwards); Already struck twice in Group 3 company this season,  showing plenty of guts to get past solid yardstick (albeit one that has filed to show promise) in The Cheka; Penalised again but one of best in field and will take good one to beat her.

Duchess Of Folxand: Ran into plenty of decent horses last year, and was only a short distance away from winning Group 3’s on two occasions (beaten by reopposing Lolly For Dolly); Gained deserved listed win soon after but will benefit for this run physically.

Enchanted Evening: Fourth in two Group three’s last season, and winner of minor event last time out, but well behind Lolly For Dolly when they met on seasonal debuts and likely to be well beaten again.

Headford View: Only just touched off in competitive fillies handicap at beginning of last year but no impact in two runs since and doesn’t look up to pattern class.

Intapeace: Winner of a decent looking handicap and small conditions event last year, but was inconsistent and doesn’t look good enough for this class of race.

Claiomh Solais: Fancied and ran a decent race on debut in average maiden before suffering heavy form reversal with third placed horse at Leopardstown latest; Does look exposed now and needs better finishing effort to be taking pattern class races.

Emiyna: Was backed like a good horse when winning only modest 3 –YO maiden at Dundalk on seasonal reappearance, and should do better than that again today; Tempting choice in open race, for all she has it to prove.

Look At Me: Won despite inexperience on debut but that factor too costly in Group 3 Oh So Sharp Stakes, pulling notably hard early before making eye-catching late headway (awkward when asked for effort but still clear of UAE Oaks/Derby winner Kawlah); Could make up into top filly this season although she’ll need to be pretty sharp to win this on reappearance.

Seeharn: Looked a filly with a future when winning her maiden and listed race, doing the job comfortably when asked on that occasion; Not lived up to that promise over this trip the last twice, looking as if she could take a hand before fading badly; Same story on seasonal reappearance and while she’ll be fitter for that, doubts over the trip remain.

VERDICT: Not an easy race to get a handle on, for all it contains useful horses. Look At Me is probably the one to take with a view to the future but she may not be as sharp as required and the pick is LOLLY FOR DOLLY, who comes here off a Group 3 double and may have enough to compelte the hat – trick.