Jessica Harrington’s vintage flat campaign can continue on day five of the Galway festival in Ireland. The renowned trainer has already passed last year’s 43-winner haul and is rapidly closing in on the €1 million prize money mark for this season.
She has six runners on Friday evening’s card, including the progressive filly Camphor in the featured €120,000 Guinness Handicap.
No three-year-old has won the mile and a half heat since 2001. But along with Aidan O’Brien’s Il Paradiso, a 12-length winner last time, the classic generation look set to figure prominently this time.
Il Paradiso is rated 15lb higher for his wide-margin win over two miles last time, whereas Camphor was hiked the same for running away with the Ulster Oaks on her last start.
Unlike her rival, Camphor is trying a mile and a half for the first time but she should be well suited to step up in trip.
The €120,000 Premier Handicap over 2400m, is timed to start at 3.50am AEST. In a field of 15, she has drawn barrier 3 and will be ridden by Shane Foley at the allocated weight of 8 stone 10.
She breezed this week under the watchful eye of Harrington and she is very pleased with her leading into the race. It is a unique track, but the draw is to her advantage.
We wish her connections the best of luck!
