A rare talent with a mind of her own: Foley relishing Albigna ride in Guineas

No Irish jockey has started the turf season better than Shane Foley and the 32-year-old is hoping to add a famous success to his tally when he partners the "very, very good" Albigna in the Tattersalls 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh on Saturday evening.

Foley, who has ridden eight winners from 23 rides since the resumption of racing at Leopardstown on Tuesday, is looking forward to riding last season's Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner in the fillies' Classic, a race he won in 2016 aboard Jet Setting.

He said: "She’s in great shape and I’m looking forward to riding her. She’s a very, very good filly, albeit she is a bit quirky and she has her own thoughts sometimes."

The Jessica Harrington-trained Albigna won her first two starts last year at the Curragh, including the Group 2 Airlie Stud Stakes in June, before finishing a disappointing sixth behind subsequent Qipco 1,000 Guineas winner Love.

Shane Foley: all smiles aboard Albigna last seasonCredit: Patrick McCann

She bounced right back to form when staying on strongly in the Prix Marcel Boussac on very soft ground at Longchamp and ended her season with a creditable fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita behind the Graham Motion-trained Sharing.

Foley added: "She has her own way of thinking. In the Moyglare she was in season and she got very warm and she wasn’t easy, and at Santa Anita she was a bit awkward early and got herself back.

"The track probably didn’t suit but that’s just her and [she's] the same at home – she does her work but if you change her routine, she can get a bit nasty.

"Some of the good ones have a quirk and she definitely does. But the fact is she’s very, very good."

Millisle: can bounce back in the Commonwealth CupCredit: Edward Whitaker

Harrington and Foley will be hoping that Albigna performs better than Qipco 1,000 Guineas seventh Millisle, who disappointed when failing to quicken at Newmarket last weekend.

Current quarantine rules meant that Foley couldn't ride both Millisle at Newmarket and Albigna this Saturday. And although he was disappointed in her performance, Millisle's regular rider expects her to bounce back if she takes in her Royal Ascot engagement next week.

"It was disappointing and I think she’s a lot better than that," said Foley. "At the time it was frustrating but things happen and it was out of anyone’s hands. I hope she can show herself better in the Commonwealth Cup maybe if she goes."

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