Soccer

Pretty Polly date for William Haggas' "startling" My Astra

My Astra destroyed the field at Ayr and now an impressed William Haggas is firming up plans for a go at the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh on June 26.

William Haggas is very impressed with his filly My Astra and is considering a tilt at the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh on June 26.

A normally reserved Haggas was taken aback with the Lope De Vega filly's showing in the Tennent's Lager British Stallion Studs EBF Rothesay Stakes at Ayr, which he described as "startling".

Twice a victor last summer and also placed in Listed races after that, the four-year-old is a half-sister to the useful My Oberon and dismissed the Jessica Harrnington trained The Blue Brilliant to win by a full 12 lengths at Ayr.

Tom Marquand barely had to raise the whip on My Astra as she quickened nicely and won with plenty in hand.

Newmarket trainer Haggas is in red hot form, sending out 17 winners in the last fortnight and said: "She won really nicely, enjoyed the step up in trip and possibly the ease in the ground too.
"I thought it looked a better race than last year, but she did really well.
"I was really impressed with her today. She travelled well and when he (Marquand) said 'go', she went.
"It was a startling victory"
My Astra holds a premium entry for the Grade 1 Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh on June 26 over a mile and two furlongs and Haggas is now seriously tempted to take his filly over the Irish Sea for a crack at some top talent from the Emerald Isle.
"My original plan was to miss Royal Ascot and go to the Hoppings Stakes at Newcastle, but it just looked there like the all-weather at Kempton (when third) last time was not for her," the Newmarket handler added.
"She'll go either to the Hoppings or the Pretty Polly and we'll decide which nearer the time."

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