Believing Eyes Group One Victory in Flying Five Stakes

The connections of Believing are optimistic she can secure her first Group One victory when she competes in the Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh later this month.

Trained by George Boughey, the daughter of Mehmas finished just three-quarters of a length behind Bradsell in the Nunthorpe at York despite a challenging draw.

This came after two close calls within four days for the four-year-old at Royal Ascot, where she finished one and a half lengths and two and three-quarter lengths behind the winners in the King Charles III Stakes and Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, respectively.

Between these races, she claimed a Group Two victory in the Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh with Ryan Moore riding. She then placed third by only three-quarters of a length in the King George at Goodwood, behind Big Evs and Asfoora.

Harry Herbert of Highclere Thoroughbred Racing eagerly anticipates a rematch with Bradsell in Ireland.

He commented, "You'd have to say if she'd been drawn on the other side (in the Nunthorpe) it would have been very close! It was close enough anyway, three-quarters of a length and seeing where she came from to get there…

'A wonderful performance with sensational splits through those last two furlongs. So we head to the Curragh for the Flying Five, on a track where she won a Group Two last time, and hopefully, she will be highly competitive again.

 

'She always runs her heart out, she's such an extraordinary filly. She bounces out of her races and has been kept very busy, starting in Hong Kong where a deluge affected her, then going every two or three weeks and twice at Royal Ascot, and she's still firing.

'She's an extraordinary animal and giving everyone a lot of fun, so we hope it doesn't get too soft in Ireland and that she can go one better.

'Winning a Group One is crucial, especially as a broodmare prospect. Her CV backed up with a Group One win would be very special when she eventually heads to the sales, so we're very hopeful that she can achieve that in Ireland.

'We'll see who turns up, what the ground is like, and what the final field for Saturday looks like. Game on for the rematch with Bradsell. He's a wonderful horse, fantastic, and we weren't that far away on the wrong side last time.

'This is a straight five, and hopefully, we can get Ryan again. Bradsell will obviously be a strong favorite, but we aim to go one better.'

Soprano, another Highclere-owned filly trained by Boughey, is also in pursuit of her first Group One win in the Coolmore America 'Justify' Matron Stakes at Leopardstown, a day earlier.

The daughter of Starspangledbanner, who won at Royal Ascot this year, recently clinched a Group Three victory at Deauville with a successful change in tactics.

Usually held back, William Buick took her to the front of the field, and she maintained her lead to finish three lengths ahead of Rose Bloom.

Herbert said, "She's thriving, she's fantastic, and I think what we learned in France is that we won't be afraid to ride her prominently.

'She's had this quirk of running free, and then the focus was on settling her at the back. But it turns out she wants to be much more prominent.

'She seems to thrive with that style of racing, so in Ireland, the plan will be to ride her sensibly but without giving her too much to do.'