5-year-old mare Midday “better than ever”- Sir Henry Cecil confident prior to the Pretty Polly Stakes
The five-year-old mare, Midday, brings hope for Sir Henry Cecil ahead of the Pretty Polly Stakes on 25 June, when the Group 1 stakes race will commence at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs.
It is open to thoroughbred fillies and mares and it kicks off during the three-day Irish Derby meeting. The Pretty Polly Stakes are scheduled to take place in June.
Sir Henry Cecil’s charge could go off odds at the Curragh on 25th June and the five-year-old mare has left her trainer feeling good about her.
Sir Henry Cecil stated that she looks better than ever. 2011 is proving to be a good year for Oasis Dream’s daughter who won the Middleton Stakes at York.
Coronation Cup at Epsom seemed certain when she was two lengths away from the lot heading towards the wire with two furlongs to go, but it was St Nicholas Abbey who spoiled the party for Midday and Sir Henry Cecil when he outran the bay mare in the final
run.
An honourable second place in the QIPCO British Champions Series was attained by the 5-year-old.
Sir Henry Cecil has always had high hopes for Midday, even after defeat in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, where she lost by a neck to Shared Account at Churchill Downs in 2010.
This year trainer, Sir Henry Cecil, is again excited about Ocean Dream’s filly and he said on his website, "She has been better than ever this year, winning her first start at York before chasing home St Nicholas Abbey in the Coronation Cup earlier this
month".
There is a purse-money of €200,000 at the Pretty Polly Stakes and it has lured a small group of fillies and mares, but a high class group none the less.
Midday’s last outing at the Curragh resulted in a third position and her connections would be hoping to ace the race this time around.
Competition is tough this year with fillies like Snow Fairy and Misty for Me also competing.
Snow Fairy, the 4-year-old bay filly won the English and Irish Oaks back in 2010, is also looking good and will team up with the local 1000 Guineas winner, Misty for Me.
The winner of the Pretty Polly Stakes will automatically qualify to run in this year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf because the Pretty Polly Stakes is part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge series since 2009.
Opportunity beckons for Midday and Sir Henry Cecil to run in this year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf and make it for the lost opportunity in 2010.
This year’s Breeders’ Cup host site is Churchill Downs, same as last year.
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