Pretty Polly Stakes tips
The Pretty Polly Stakes is a Group 1 Flat race that is open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three or older. It’s run at the Curragh over 1 mile and two furlongs and this year will take place on Saturday July 1.
It will be officially known as the Yulong Pretty Polly Stakes for sponsorship reasons.
Pretty Polly Stakes 2023 prizes:
- Total Prize Money: €300,000.
- First Prize: €180,000.
- Second Prize: €60,000.
- Third Prize: €30,000.
Changes over the years
The race is named after Pretty Polly, a filly foaled in Ireland in 1901 who boasted 12 major wins including the 1,000 Guineas (1904) and the Oaks Stake (1904).
Proof of her outstanding record is that in total, she won 22 of her 24 races and placed second in each of the other two that she didn’t win.
Originally it was only open to fillies aged three, but it was later opened to older horses. At one stage it was classified as a Group 2 race but since 2004 it was promoted to Group 1.
Pretty Polly Stakes 2023 List of Runners
- Above the Curve (USA)
- Comhra (IRE)
- Goldana (IRE)
- Insinuendo (IRE)
- Never Ending Story (IRE)
- Rosscarbery (GER)
- Stay Alert (GB)
- Trevanuance (IRE)
- Via Sistina (IRE)
Pretty Polly Stakes Tips
The favourite: Via Sistina
Jockey: Jamie Spencer
Trainer: George Boughey
Back in November Via Sistina won a Group Three race in France, before then taking the step up and winning a Group Two race on its debut at that level when taking the Dahlia Stakes with the ever-reliable Jamie Spencer on board.
It’s now rated at 122, behind only Above the Curve and though it will need some considerable improvement to win a Group 1 race such as this one, it ticks plenty of boxes and is just about a justified favourite.
Trainer George Boughey said: “She’s very effective on that (soft) ground and between a mile and a mile and a half, I don’t really know what her trip is.
“She showed loads of pace and there’s a big summer ahead for her.”
**Another horse to consider: Above the Curve
Jockey: Ryan Morre
Trainer: Joseph O’Brien.
Above the Curve is expected to go off at around the 5/2 mark. The American horse currently has a rating of 124, the highest in the field and has won some big races that have caught the eye.
It won the Prix Saint-Alary at Longchamp last year and showed it clearly enjoyed running in France when following that up with another win in the Prix Corrida on May 28. It was a much-needed return to form because previously it had finished seventh (last) in the Mooresbridge Stakes but that can just be put down to a bad day at the office because in between April and September 2022 it won three out of four races, including as a 5/1 shot here at the Curragh, proving it can win on this particular course.
There are three more positives to its chances: it’s trained by Joseph O’Brien who as we know has an excellent record in this race, it will be ridden by Ryan Moore who is one of the best jockeys around and it runs well on any ground so conditions on the day shouldn’t affect its chances much.
It would be no surprise if it tries to lead from the front and asks questions of the other horses in terms of trying to catch up with it.
Pretty Polly Stakes Past Winners
Only two horses have ever won the race more than once. Dance Design won in 1996 and 1997 while Alexandra Goldrun also won it twice, back in 2005 and 2006.
So, as you can see, when a horse does win it twice, it’s been back-to-back, but that won’t be happening this year because last year’s winner La Petite Coco hasn’t been entered this time round.
But there’s a familiar name who will be there. A couple of weeks ago we tipped up Rosscarbery here at LeoVegas to win the Darley Munster Oaks Stakes at odds of 2/1 and it duly did.
Notable records by trainers and jockeys
Since 1950, seven different jockeys have won it on three separate occasions, but no-one has done it four times. One of the notable jockeys to have achieved the three was Lester Pigott in 1971, 1979 and 1980.
The last man to complete a hat-trick of wins is James ‘Seamie’ Heffernan, who last won in 2020 onboard Magical.
Speaking of O’Briens, the most successful trainer in this event is the late Vincent O’Brien, who won it seven times, the last of which was in 1988.
Aiden O’Brien, who is no relation to Joseph, took over his Balloydoyle stables after his retirement, has won it himself on five occasions.
And just to keep with the O’Briens, his son Joseph has won it two times himself, the last of which in 2021 with Thundering Nights! Aiden O’Brien has Never Ending Story in this race, while Joseph O’Brien has favourite Above the Curve and Goldana.