July 23 / 16.00 Curragh

16.00

Yielding

Michael John Kennedy Memorial Stakes (Group 3) (Fillies & Mares)

  • Prize money: £28716.81
  • 1m 1f 0y
  • 8 runners
RTV
View Course
Michael John Kennedy Memorial Stakes (Group 3) (Fillies & Mares)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

Form: 21-146 C

Last run: 22 days

W: 9st 12lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Former German-trained filly and better than ever in winning a 7f Listed event here (heavy) in April; now back down in class from the Group 1 Pretty Polly and, while she has to concede weight all round, her form is right up there.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

1

(6)

13th Oct 2024

Yielding

1m 0f 0y

14:50 Naas

Goldana

9st 8lb

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Group 3/Listed winner with best form on heavy ground; needs to bounce back from indifferent Gowran run, when Improvista and Azada finished in front of her; may have needed that on first run since Group 2 second at the Curragh in May; first-time cheekpieces; any further easing would help.

5/1

8th

2

(6)

21st Sep 2024

Good

1m 1f 100y

16:01 Gowran Park

Goldana

9st 7lb

J: Scott McCullagh

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Group 3 winner who got her head back in front in Listed company earlier in the year and was only beaten roughly a length in a Curragh Group 2 when last seen; drying ground probably against her and has been off 118 days.

8/1

Abandoned

Form: 129-22

Last run: 11 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Has a record of 3-11, with her most notable success at Listed level (1m); can hold her own in Group 3s as she showed at Fairyhouse (7f) last time but proved no match for the winner that day and she'll do well to reverse previous Navan placings with Cadeau Belle.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

(2)

26th Aug 2023

Good

1m 1f 0y

17:40 Curragh

Cigamia

9st 7lb

J: W J Lee

T: W McCreery

in touch with leaders

7/2

2nd

1

(1)

12th Jul 2023

Good

0m 7f 0y

18:50 Fairyhouse

Cigamia

9st 9lb

J: Nathan Crosse

T: W McCreery

prominent, pushed along 3f out, ridden and chased clear leader under 2f out, kept on final furlong, no match for winner

9/2

OUR TIP

Abandoned

Form: 009-11 D

Last run: 45 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Ex-Ralph Beckett, for whom she was aggressively campaigned (ran in the Oaks); changed hands for 98,000gns and has gone 2-2 for new connections, latterly winning a 1m1f good-ground (fine on softer) Listed event at Leopardstown; didn't have much in hand that day and this company demands more from her.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

4

(1)

29th Jul 2023

Soft To Heavy

1m 1f 0y

14:30 Gowran Park

Moon De Vega

9st 9lb

J: W J Lee

T: P Twomey

Course winner on yard debut in May and followed up in a Listed race at Leopardstown last month; needs to prove she's as effective on slower ground but warrants respect for a yard in flying form.

9/4

1st

6

(3)

8th Jun 2023

Good To Firm

1m 1f 0y

18:30 Leopardstown

Moon De Vega

9st 4lb

J: W J Lee

T: P Twomey

Quite ambitiously campaigned last year in Britain by Ralph Beckett but regressed; picked up for 98,000gns at Tattersalls February Sales and fine debut for new connections when dropped in class and tongue tie tried in five-runner Gowran fillies/ conditions event last month, comfortably brushing aside an odds-on favourite to win going away over extended 1m1f; back up in grade here and major player.

15/8

Abandoned

Form: 11

Last run: 42 days

W: 9st 0lb

3 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Comfortable winner of her 7f maiden (soft) and was nicely on top of Cigamia when maintaining her unbeaten record in a 1m Listed event at Navan (good); that's very solid form with the front two dominant and, after just two starts, there should be plenty more to come.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

4

(3)

18th Mar 2024

Heavy

1m 0f 0y

15:40 Curragh

Cadeau Belle

9st 11lb

J: Ben Coen

T: J P Murtagh

Won a Listed contest over 1m at Navan on good ground last summer having won her maiden on soft; failed to beat a rival in two starts since; tongue-tie.

10/1

12th

6

(12)

9th Sep 2023

Good

1m 0f 0y

14:45 Leopardstown

Cadeau Belle

9st 2lb

J: Ben Coen

T: J P Murtagh

towards rear

20/1

9th

5

(5)

29th Jul 2023

Soft

0m 7f 213y

Class 1

14:25 Ascot

Cadeau Belle

8st 11lb

J: Jamie Spencer

T: J P Murtagh

took keen hold, towards rear

7/2

Abandoned

Form: 1250 BF

Last run: 30 days

W: 9st 0lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Not sure what happened in a 1m handicap at Royal Ascot (perhaps fast ground was a factor) but she was a highly credible fifth in the 1,000 Guineas here the time before, with that after coming up shy behind Village Voice at Listed level; only had the four races and is entitled to improve some more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

(2)

21st Jul 2024

Good

1m 1f 0y

16:20 Curragh

Jackie Oh

9st 9lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

chased clear leader, headway under 3f out, challenging over 2f out, weakened 1f out

5/4

3rd

9

(9)

21st Oct 2023

Soft

1m 3f 211y

Class 1

14:25 Ascot

Jackie Oh

9st 1lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

raced wide early, took keen hold, midfield, headway from 2f out, briefly went second inside final furlong, kept on, just held

7/2

2nd

6

(7)

10th Sep 2023

Good

1m 2f 0y

14:25 Curragh

Jackie Oh

9st 2lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

towards rear

11/4

Abandoned

Form: 132-74

Last run: 78 days

W: 9st 0lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Galway maiden winner at two (7f, soft) and later threatened at Group 3/Listed level; quiet start to this campaign (at 1m2f) and now returns from a break with cheekpieces given a whirl; others have less to prove right now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

(1)

10th Nov 2023

Standard

1m 0f 0y

18:30 Dundalk (AW)

Keep In Touch

9st 2lb

J: Chris Hayes

T: D K Weld

Hasn't added to 2yo Galway maiden win but career-best when touched off in Listed contest at same venue in August in first-time visor; two runs since not nearly as good, not seeming to get home in heavy ground latest; AW debut and major chance on her best form although hasn't always looked the strongest of finishers.

4/1

5th

11

(2)

1st Oct 2023

Soft To Heavy

0m 7f 100y

14:40 Tipperary

Keep In Touch

9st 2lb

J: Chris Hayes

T: D K Weld

prominent on inner, went second over 2f out, weakened gradually final furlong

10/1

Abandoned

Form: -16540

Last run: 10 days

W: 9st 0lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Since winning her maiden on reappearance (9.5f) she's come up well short in Listed/Group 3 assignments; has to find improvement from somewhere and she's starting to look exposed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

12

(10)

13th Aug 2023

Good To Yielding

1m 2f 0y

15:50 Curragh

Lambada

9st 1lb

J: Seamie Heffernan

T: A P O’Brien

led, headed but prominent after 2f, disputed lead 4f out

12/1

10th

6

(1)

13th Jul 2023

Good

1m 6f 0y

20:00 Leopardstown

Lambada

8st 9lb

J: Leigh Roche

T: A P O’Brien

Maiden winner over 9.5f on return; well held in first two goes in stakes company before creditable front-running fourth over 1m2f at Naas in Listed contest won by Library; has nearly 3l to find with that rival on this first try at 1m6f.

15/2

Form: 13-10

Last run: 31 days

W: 9st 0lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Her two defeats have come at Group level, with fast ground perhaps a factor in her modest run at Royal Ascot (1m4f); better judged on her cosy defeat of Jackie Oh in a 1m2f Listed race at Navan (heavy) the time before and that form brings her into it, especially with rain about.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

9

(5)

19th Oct 2024

Soft

1m 3f 133y

Class 1

14:35 Ascot

Village Voice

9st 7lb

J: Cristian Demuro

T: Mrs John Harrington

Well beaten in the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot 2023 on her first attempt at 1m4f and returned to the trip only on latest outing, when comfortably moving 4l clear in the closing stages at Saint-Cloud (very soft); that was a career best, in only a Listed race compared to today's Group 1 but she may now have more to offer at this sort of trip and is in each-way contention.

14/1

4th

7

(1)

6th May 2024

Soft

1m 2f 0y

16:10 Curragh

Village Voice

9st 2lb

J: Shane Foley

T: Mrs John Harrington

took keen hold, towards rear but in touch with leaders, went third under 4f out, disputing second when ridden over 1f out, weakened final 110yds

3/1

4th

7

(1)

6th May 2024

Soft

1m 2f 0y

16:10 Curragh

Village Voice

9st 2lb

J: Shane Foley

T: Mrs John Harrington

Decent filly goes best on testing ground, winning a Navan Listed and Saint-Cloud Group 3 last season in such conditions over this trip; is 3lb better off for a 3/4l beating by White Birch in the Group 3 Alleged Stakes on return, so there should be little between them today.

3/1

Verdict

The pick of Goldana’s form is right up there at this level, which represents a welcome drop in grade from contesting the Pretty Polly. However, she does have to concede weight all round, and CADEAU BELLE smacks of a filly with plenty more to offer if her taking defeat of Cigamia at Navan is anything to go by. With plenty of rain about, Village Voice is by no means dismissed lightly.[Alistair Jones]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Cadeau Belle

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Goldana

TOPSPEED:

Village Voice

The Irish Sun:

Cadeau Belle

POSTDATA:

Goldana