Princess Zoe takes next step on road to Gold Cup in Vintage Tipple Stakes

5.30 Gowran Park
Irish Stallion Farms EBF Vintage Tipple Stakes (Listed) | 1m6f | 4yo+ fillies and mares | RTV

This has the makings of a tasty midweek treat at Gowran – one of two Listed events the track plays host to on Wednesday – with Prix du Cadran heroine Princess Zoe bidding to get back on track after a below-par return at Cork last month.

The ground was likely quicker than ideal last time in the Listed Noblesse Stakes, as well as the 1m4f trip probably being a touch shorter than ideal, so this return to easier ground and a longer distance should do the popular mare no harm.

Princess Zoe (right) reels in longtime leader Alkuin to land the Group 1 Prix du CadranCredit: Edward Whitaker

However, she thrived on racing last season and possibly might need her first couple of runs to get to concert pitch, as Tony Mullins sets his sights on a Gold Cup showdown with Stradivarius.

The talented six-year-old faces five rivals who finished in front of her at Cork 32 days ago, with the most interesting of those being the second and third, Flor De La Luna and Yaxeni.

The former, who looks a high-quality Group filly in the making, showed real signs of greenness when shying away from the stalls in the centre of the track in the Noblesse, doing no favours to Yaxeni when forcing her to lose all momentum by shifting left.

Expect Flor De La Luna to be more streetwise now and improve from that comeback run to play a major role.

Barrington Court: enjoyed an excellent Flat campaign last yearCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

Barrington Court is another live challenger from the Jessica Harrington stable, effective on testing ground and impressive when reverting to the Flat to win back-to-back Listed races at Naas last season.

The Dermot Weld-trained Zawara, by Dubawi and out of a French 1m4½f Group 3 winner, was third to Barrington Court on the second occasion and could be just the type to find improvement as a four-year-old, although she'll need to in this company.

Joseph O'Brien's pair, Traisha and Mighty Blue, should be on the premises if the leading players fail to deliver their best.

What they say

Tony Mullins, trainer of Princess Zoe
We're hoping the ground will stay soft, yielding in places, but it might go back to yielding – at least there'll be no 'good' in it. The extra couple of furlongs will suit. We had the option of going to York next week but decided on this race when the rain came. If things go right this will be her final run before the Ascot Gold Cup. It'd be great if she won but the main thing is for her to show her wellbeing and be in the money, then we can fine tune her for Ascot.

Jessica Harrington, trainer of Barrington Court and Flor De La Luna
They're two lovely fillies. I'd like to see a bit of rain, they enjoy an ease in the ground.

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Traisha and Mighty Blue
They're both consistent performers looking for some more black type and this looked a suitable place for them, although it's quite a hot Listed race. I'd say they both should handle the step up in trip.

Dermot Weld, trainer of Zawara
She was consistent last season, winning a maiden and placing in a Listed race, and we've kept her going this year in the hope of getting some more black type. She's running over this distance for the first time and it's a little bit of a worry, but she seems to be settling well so we're hopeful it'll suit.

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