Minding the star of the show again

Minding showed her class once again when chasing down Bocca Baciata to land the Sea The Stars Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh today.

Bocca Baciata cut out the running in the Group One feature event and established a clear lead from half-way in the ten furlong contest.

1/5 shot Minding was asked to go in pursuit of the leader passing the two marker, by Ryan Moore, but still had five lengths to find on the front-runner.

The Guineas and Oaks winner picked up impressively, however, and collared her rival inside the final furlong before powering away in the closing stages for a four-and-a-half length victory.

The brilliant daughter of Galileo completed a treble on a good day for Moore and Aidan O'Brien.

"She is a great filly. She loves her racing, and is getting very relaxed. Ryan was delighted with her, and we will look at something like the Nassau,” said O'Brien.

"She has two options really for her next run, the Irish Oaks and the Nassau, and we are eyeing the Irish Oaks with Even Song.

"I hope she will stay in training next year, and I'll certainly plead that she does. She is very talented and progressing all the time."

Moore said:- “I thought Jamie was going to go on but he sat back and it set her a task but she had enough class to get out of it.

“She's a very good filly. Aidan keeps bringing her back and producing her to run.

“It's some performance from a filly that's had two Guineas and an Oaks to come here. It's a tough schedule and to keep her still progressing is a magnificent achievement.

“She picked up to get there and then we shut down in the last furlong and coasted. There's more there again if we need it.

“She's a high class filly and she's adaptable. She's gone on a variety of ground. I'm very lucky to ride her, she's a pleasure.”

Paddy Power made Minding a 5/4 shot from 2/1 for the Irish Oaks while Even Song is now 6/4 from 11/10.

Minding is 6/4 from 2/1 with the same firm for the Nassau Stakes.

(Quotes by Alan Magee)