Small but select field

DUAL Classic heroine Minding will face just four rivals in the Sea The Stars Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday.

Having struck twice at Group One level as a juvenile, the Galileo filly was a stunning winner of the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket at the start of May.

Aidan O’Brien’s filly suffered a shock defeat when chasing the Guineas double in Ireland three weeks after, but bounced back to her brilliant best to win the Investec Oaks at Epsom and now faces her elders for the first time in her career.

“I’ve been happy with her since the Oaks and she seems to have come out of Epsom well,” said O’Brien.

“It’s possible that she could go to Goodwood for the Nassau Stakes after this, and Even Song (Ribblesdale Stakes winner) could go for the Irish Oaks.”

There are two challengers from Britain, with Luca Cumani’s Middleton Stakes runner-up Koora joined by the James Fanshawe-trained Speedy Boarding.

The latter claimed the Group Two Prix Corrida at Saint-Cloud last month, but her trainer admits she has more on her plate this weekend.

Fanshawe said: “It’s a step up for her after winning at Saint-Cloud a few weeks ago, but she’s in good shape and worked nicely last weekend.

“I’m happy with her and we’ll see what she can do, but she will need to raise her game to beat a filly like Minding.”

Jessica Harrington is looking forward to saddling Bocca Bacciata, who was fourth against the boys in the Tattersalls Gold Cup on her most recent start.

Harrington said: “I was hoping for a bit of nice ground. Whether we get it or not, we’ll have to wait and see.

“She is in very good form, so we’ll let her take her chance.

“She didn’t disgrace herself in the Tattersalls Gold Cup and if we can finish in the first three we’ll be thrilled.”

Lucida from Jim Bolger’s yard completes the line-up.