Midweek treat as Group 1 fillies Millisle and Forever In Dreams lock horns

6.15 Naas
Yeomanstown Stud Ballyogan Stakes | 6f | Group 3 | 3yo+ | RTV

This Group 3, which is usually staged at the Curragh, revolves around Millisle.

So much was expected of the speedy daughter of Starspangledbanner this season – she was just 4-1 to beat Love in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket last month, where she faded into seventh.

The reflex reaction was to think she had not trained on from two to three, but an improved showing in the Commonwealth Cup followed by a perfectly respectable second to Art Power over this course and distance suggests otherwise.

This is without doubt Millisle’s best chance of posting a first victory since her last-gasp Cheveley Park Stakes success at Newmarket in June of last year. The trip, track and ground ought to be ideal and her rating of 111 is 2lb superior to any other runner in the line-up. Excuses will not wash on this occasion.

Forever In Dreams is her biggest threat according to the official ratings. She boasts a mark of 109 and her narrow defeat to Speak In Colours in the Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh last time is ample evidence she is better than ever this year. She needs rain, though, and lots of it, to be at her very best.

Forever In Dreams: has twice placed at Group 1 level at AscotCredit: Alan Crowhurst

She has a Listed win on good to firm ground at Haydock on her CV, but the best performance of her career came on heavy ground at Ascot last October when she was third in the Champions Sprint at 66-1. If the ground softens, she could go off favourite.

Lady Penelope is one from one at Naas. She displayed bundles of early pace when making a winning return in a Listed race at this venue over a slightly shorter trip, but there is a nagging doubt that 6f stretches her stamina, and she hit a low of 2.06 on the exchanges before fading into fifth over this distance last time.

Unforgetable ,Joseph O’Brien’s other runner, is not without a chance either. She took a nice step forward when second to the smart Valeria Messalina over 7f at Cork ten days ago, but this shorter trip is not sure to play to her strengths.

Much will depend on how much rain Naas receives. If the ground stays good, Millisle should get back to winning ways. Anything softer could open the door for Forever In Dreams.

What they say

Aidan Fogarty, trainer of Forever In Dreams
Naas could get four millimetres of rain before racing and every drop they get will help us. She’s in great form and we think she’s improved again since the Curragh. It’s great that we’ve got Colin Keane on board as he’s riding winners left, right and centre.

Jessica Harrington, trainer of Millisle
It looks a lovely opportunity. I was thrilled with her last time and that run really seems to have brought her confidence back. It’d be great if she can get back to winning ways and, if she manages that, we can always aim higher.

Fozzy Stack, trainer of Back To Brussels and Lynn Britt Cabin
Back To Brussels has been a bit unlucky. She was a big price at Cork but ran very well. Her work had been good all spring so we weren’t massively surprised. Lynn Britt Cabin was a bit flat at Cork and I’m hoping she’ll perform a bit better than that here.

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Precious Moments
She’s been busy, but keeps coming out of her races well so we’re letting her have another go. It’s a tough race, but she’s fit and well.

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