Brilliant Kiyoshi set for Curragh Test

Charlie Hills bagged his first classic as a trainer when Just The Judge won the Irish 1000 Guineas earlier this season and he is optimistic that he already has another classic filly in his yard. Kiyoshi shot to the head of the ante-post market when she slammed a top class field in Ascot’s Albany Stakes in June and puts her credentials on the line this weekend.

The form of the Ascot race has been repeatedly boosted with five Group races falling to horses that were well beaten by Kiyoshi. The only question mark against her is that she deviated quite violently across the course when she hit the front and Jamie Spencer is expected to deliver his challenge as late as possible to avoid a repetition.

The money this week has all been for market rival Tapestry, supplemented for the race by Aidan O’Brien. The daughter of Galileo won the Group 2 Debutante Stakes over course and distance, beating her stable companion Perhaps in the process.

O’Brien has also declared Wonderfully who has won two of her three starts but was more than seven lengths adrift of Kiyoshi at Ascot. A high class field also includes Clive Brittain’s Queen Mary Stakes winner Rizeena who is stepping up to seven furlongs for the first time.

O’Brien fields another classic hope in the Group 3 Round Tower Stakes at 2.40 when Great White Eagle attempts to follow up his debut victory at Naas. He is already prominent in the ante-post lists for the 2000 Guineas next season and anything less than victory here would be a major shock.

Ballydoyle also have a strong representative in the Group 3 Dance Design Stakes when Say reappears quickly after her fast-finishing second in the Galtres Stakes at York. Her main rival looks to be the progressive Along Came Casey who beat her decisively at Gowran Park earlier this season.

The Irish Cambridgeshire at 3.45 is hugely competitive but Ed Vaughan is confident of a bold showing from Dance And Dance with Ryan Moore in the saddle. He ran on well past beaten horses behind Glen Moss at Newbury and will again try to arrive fast and late.

O’Brien runs a couple of unexposed types in Line Drummer and Francis of Assisi whilst Stuccodor and Karamaya are others to be respected in a wide open race.

Selections: 2.10 Shell House, 2.40 Great White Eagle (nb), 3.10 Kerisa, 3.40 Along Came Casey, 4.15 Kiyoshi (NAP), 4.45 Line Drummer, 5.15 Iron Major