Shane Foley: I've always loved Cayenne Pepper and she has turned inside out

Shane Foley was convinced Cayenne Pepper was the best juvenile filly he rode last year and the man leading the Irish jockeys' championship retains ultimate faith in the new Irish Oaks favourite ahead of Saturday's Classic showdown at the Curragh.

Cayenne Pepper is now the general 2-1 market leader to provide Jessica Harrington with a ninth Group 1 success on the Flat following the news that superstar filly Love will skip the race in favour of the Yorkshire equivalent, while French Oaks winner Fancy Blue is heading for the Nassau Stakes.

The absence of that pair is music to the ears of Cayenne Pepper's big-race rider who has always been her number one fan.

Foley said: "I've always loved Cayenne Pepper. I know I said last year I thought she might be the best of Jessie's juvenile fillies and I hope I'm right. We'll find out on Saturday!

"She has turned inside out in the last couple of weeks. To be perfectly honest, I was very worried about her at the start of the year. She wasn't working well and she didn't look great either. I feared the worst. I wondered would she come back at all but, thankfully, she has.

Love: skips the Irish OaksCredit: Edward Whitaker

"She went for a breeze at the Curragh the other morning and I was really pleased with her. She has definitely improved since her comeback in the Pretty Polly."

The comeback Foley is talking about was against arguably the second-best female in training in the shape of Magical. Cayenne Pepper stuck to her task bravely to only be beaten four and a half lengths, a performance that surprised Foley.

"I thought she would need it badly at the Curragh so I have to admit she surprised me," Foley admitted. "You would have to be delighted with the way she kept going and I think the Oaks trip will suit her.

"She goes on any ground, she's very straightfoward and it's all systems go. The only day she wasn't straightforward was over at Newmarket in the Fillies' Mile.

Shane Foley missed the winning ride on Alpine Star at Royal AscotCredit: Edward Whitaker

"She was very keen that day and wasn't herself, but hopefully that was just a one-off. You can ride her any way you want really and, I have to admit, I was delighted to see neither Love nor Fancy Blue were going for the race. That was a big bonus."

Foley missed the winning ride on Alpine Star in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, as well as a number of other big-race rides in Britain and France due to the Covid-19 restriction and 14-day quarantine rule.

While admitting his frustrations at not being able to travel freely, he does sit top of the Irish jockeys' championship on 37 winners – 12 clear of Colin Keane.

Foley said: "It's obviously frustrating not being able to ride the horses outside of Ireland but it was great to see Alpine Star winning at Royal Ascot and the team are absolutely flying.

"It's frustrating, but it's far more important to see the horses running well no matter who is riding them. It's a big team effort and a winner anywhere is a winner for everyone."

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