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- Rubina on last chance in Ballyogan
Rubina on last chance in Ballyogan
Rubina seen here winning on her debut
© Photo Healy Racing
Lightening Pearl attempts to get her career back on track when she drops back in trip for the Ballyogan Stakes at Leopardstown on Thursday.
Winner of the Group One Cheveley Park Stakes last autumn, the Ger Lyons-trained filly reverts to that distance of six furlongs after being well-beaten in the Qipco 1000 Guineas at Newmarket last month.
"That's the route we're going for the moment. She's well and if the ground is good she'll run," said Lyons.
"If the rain comes in we'll have to have a worry about the ground.
"We need to have runners in races like this. We nearly won the Ballyogan with That's Hot a few years ago and Lightening Pearl would be in a different league to her."
It is last chance saloon time for the three-year-old filly Rubina who has yet to reproduce her decent juvenile form.
The daughter of Invincible Spirit will be retired if she fails to reproduce her sparkle.
"She's been disappointing since her early two-year-old races, so this is her last chance," said trainer John Oxx.
"It looks a good race and these fillies' events are very competitive.
"I think she will be up against it. Unless she runs well she will be retired afterwards."