Albigna Green-Lighted for Breeders’ Cup

[Wandering Eyes]

Jessica Harrington has given the green light for Albigna (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) to run in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita. Having won her first two starts at The Curragh, the daughter of Zoffany disappointed when stepped up to the highest level for the first time in the G1 Moyglare Stud S., but was later found to be in season. The G1 Prix Marcel Boussac at ParisLongchamp presented the exciting filly with a second chance to gab Group 1 glory–and she made the most of the opportunity with an ultimately clear-cut win in the hands of Shane Foley. Harrington is now looking forward to saddling her first ever runner at the Breeders’ Cup on Friday week.

“Albigna has come out of ParisLongchamp in great form and put on plenty of weight, so we’re going to strike while the iron is hot,” the trainer told The Irish Field. “The Niarchos family [owners] are huge fans of the Breeders’ Cup and it will be my first runner at the meeting, so it is very exciting.

“She’ll go for the Juvenile Fillies Turf. I’m not quite sure of the form of the American fillies, but Albigna showed she is one of the best over here and she was brilliant in the Marcel Boussac. She stayed on really well in that race, but showed earlier in the year that she has a turn of foot and can handle quicker ground when she won the G2 Airlie Stud S. We’re really looking forward to having a go next Friday week.”

Albigna is one of a clutch of high-class juvenile fillies for the Harrington team this season along with Group 2 winner Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), G1Cheveley Park S. heroine Millisle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) and Cayenne Pepper (Ire) (Australia {GB}). Having won her first three starts, the latter was well-fancied when stepped up to the highest level for last week’s G1 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket, but had to make do with minor honours in fourth.

Harrington said, “Cayenne Pepper is done for the year after she finished fourth in the Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket. Shane Foley said she didn’t really handle the Dip that well and just lost momentum at the wrong time. He then had to pull her around runners and she ended up finishing off her race really well, closing right up on the front three by the time she crossed the line. Looking ahead to next year, she looks like she’ll stay very well, so the G1 Oaks would come into the equation, but I’d be looking to start her off in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas considering how she handled Newmarket last week.”

The post Albigna Green-Lighted for Breeders’ Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

View the full article