Jessica Harrington has “various options” as the next target for Group 1-winning filly Albigna (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}). The 3-year-old holds entries for both the G3 Green Room Meld S. at Leopardstown on Saturday and the G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks at The Curragh a week later, and could take up either engagement. After winning her first two juvenile starts, including a Group 2 success in the Airlie Stud S., the filly finished sixth behind subsequent dual Classic winner Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 Moyglare Stud S. before claiming a Group 1 victory in the Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp. A valiant run to finish fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf followed, and she was made favourite for last month's G1 Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas as a result of those early exploits. The good to firm going hindered her chances in the fillies' Classic, however, as the daughter of Zoffany could finish only sixth behind Aidan O'Brien's Peaceful (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Ground considerations will be significant in deciding her next target.
“She's in the Meld S. at Leopardstown and she's also still in the Irish Oaks,” said Harrington. “So we're yet to decide–there are various options for her. She doesn't want good to firm ground. As long as the ground is nice, she's ok–it was just a bit quick at The Curragh on Guineas day, that was all.”
Harrington also issued an update on Millisle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), who finished second in the G3 Coolmore Sioux Nation Lacken S. at Naas on Saturday. The filly was running for a second time since reverting to a distance of six furlongs, having previously suffered her heaviest defeat when finishing seventh in the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas. Despite regaining her form at her preferred trip, the 3-year-old will not take up her early entry in the July Cup and will instead be targeted at a contest closer to home.
“We'll run over six or seven furlongs now,” added Harrington of the daughter of Green Castle (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}). “We'll probably look for races in Ireland next–the plan is for her to run her next race here.”
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